Monday, December 23

Courts

Courts

$250,000 Settlement Reached Over Movie Theater Operator’s Data Breach Impacting 23,000 New York Workers

(WNY News Now) A data breach at National Amusements, a global movie theater operator, exposed sensitive information of over 23,000 New York employees, prompting a $250,000 settlement and cybersecurity reforms.NEW YORK New York Attorney General Letitia James on Fridaysecured $250,000 from a global movie theater operator, National Amusements, Inc. (National Amusements), that operates movie theaters in the Bronx and on Long Island for failing to protect their former and current employees and contractors personal information. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) determined that National Amusements failed to implement strong data security, which left it vulnerable to a data breach that compromised the information of more than 23,000 New York employees. The OAG s inv...
Courts

Former Nurse Practitioner Jailed for Role in Western Pennsylvania Oxycodone Scheme

(WNY News Now) A former certified registered nurse practitioner has been sentenced for defrauding Medicaid and fueling the opioid crisis through fraudulent Oxycodone prescriptions.HARRISBURG Joseph G. Sapp, 56, a former certified registered nurse practitioner from western Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months in jail, followed by eight years of probation, for his involvement in a large-scale prescription fraud scheme.The Office of Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Sapp pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possession with intent to deliver, Medicaid fraud, and forgery. Investigators uncovered that Sapp had written fraudulent prescriptions for thousands of Oxycodone pills, filling them at pharmacies in Westmoreland, Allegheny, Fayette, and Washington coun...
Falconer Woman Admits to Role in Sex Trafficking and Drug Operation
Courts

Falconer Woman Admits to Role in Sex Trafficking and Drug Operation

(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, N.Y. – Cora Waddington, 25, of Falconer, NY, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking and drug distribution charges, marking a disturbing case of exploitation and substance abuse. The charges include conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and benefitting financially from trafficking in persons, carrying a potential sentence of five years to life in prison.Federal prosecutors revealed that between October and December 2022, Waddington conspired with co-defendants Zaid Mendoza, also known as “Diamond,” and Kelvin O. Thomas to run a sex trafficking operation. The scheme targeted vulnerable victims struggling with drug addiction, luring them into commercial sex work with shelter, food, and daily doses of heroin and fentanyl.The trio used a residence on West Ma...
Courts

North Carolina Man Admits Role in Nationwide Mail Fraud Scheme Targeting Over 800 Companies

(WNY News Now) – A North Carolina man has admitted guilt in a scheme that deceived hundreds of U.S. companies, accumulating over $860,000 in fraudulent payments.ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Nicholas Scarantino, a 30-year-old from North Carolina, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, a charge that could lead to a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford accepted Scarantino’s plea on charges stemming from a mail fraud scheme that affected hundreds of companies nationwide, including several in New York.Scarantino was the owner of Direct Chemicals, a California-based business, through which he orchestrated the fraudulent activity. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Resnick, Scarantino, along with others, mailed th...
Attorney General James Files Lawsuit to Block UnitedHealth and Amedisys Merger, Citing Threats to Senior Care
Courts

Attorney General James Files Lawsuit to Block UnitedHealth and Amedisys Merger, Citing Threats to Senior Care

(WNY News Now) – New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with the DOJ and three other states, is taking legal action to prevent UnitedHealth Group’s acquisition of Amedisys, alleging the merger would lead to higher costs and lower care quality for seniors relying on home health and hospice services.NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined three attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in suing UnitedHealth Group (United) and Amedisys, Inc. (Amedisys), two of the nation’s largest providers of home health and hospice services for seniors, to block United’s acquisition of Amedisys that could threaten the quality of critical health care services for millions of seniors. United and Amedisys are each other’s top competitors in many home health mark...
California Energy Provider Reaches $250K Settlement for Allegedly Misleading Pennsylvanians into High-Cost Energy Contracts
Courts

California Energy Provider Reaches $250K Settlement for Allegedly Misleading Pennsylvanians into High-Cost Energy Contracts

(WNY News Now) – In a settlement designed to protect Pennsylvania consumers, Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Inspire Clean Energy will pay restitution and take corrective measures after allegedly misleading customers into costly energy contracts.HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced a settlement with Inspire Clean Energy that will require the California-based energy provider to pay restitution for misleading consumers into service agreements, in addition to other monetary relief.The Office of Attorney General’s investigation revealed that Inspire representatives allegedly told consumers they were merely participating in a survey or signing up for a mailing list to receive information about clean energy, when in fact they were being enrolled in Inspire’s ener...
Niagara Falls Man Admits to Cocaine Trafficking Charge, Faces Up to 20 Years
Courts

Niagara Falls Man Admits to Cocaine Trafficking Charge, Faces Up to 20 Years

(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, N.Y. — Rashaun Dix, 38, from Niagara Falls, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge, announced by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.The case, overseen by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Jacovetti, stemmed from a joint investigation in 2021 by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Niagara Falls Police. Authorities began closely monitoring Dix after he was connected to a suspected cocaine distributor in the Niagara Falls area.According to court records, Dix sought assistance from an associate in March 2022 to convert cocaine into crack, referring to the substance as “nu-nu” and asking for help “cooking” it. The followin...
Courts

Contractor Fined $121K for Illegal Construction on Protected Wetlands in Long Island

(WNY News Now) – New York’s Attorney General and DEC secure penalties and enforce restoration after contractor’s illegal parking lot construction threatens vital Carlls River wetlands.NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced that they have secured over $121,000 in penalties from contractor Anthony Labriola and his two affiliate companies – ALAC Realty, LLC and ALAC Contracting Corp. –for illegally building a construction vehicle parking lot and storage facility on a protected area along the Carlls River in West Babylon, Suffolk County. Labriola and his companies removed trees and vegetation to build the storage areas, leveling a protected “buffer area” adjacent to wetlands ...
Uniontown’s Ex-Treasurer Found Guilty of Embezzling Over $106,000 for Gambling Habit
Courts

Uniontown’s Ex-Treasurer Found Guilty of Embezzling Over $106,000 for Gambling Habit

(WNY News Now) – A Fayette County jury has convicted former Uniontown City Treasurer Antoinette Hodge of stealing over $106,000 in taxpayer funds to fuel a costly gambling habit.UNIONTOWN – Former Uniontown City Treasurer Antoinette Hodge, 54, was convicted Thursday of embezzling approximately $106,000 in public funds between 2020 and 2021. The Fayette County jury found Hodge guilty of multiple charges, including theft by unlawful taking, perjury, and obstructing the administration of government.“The defendant was elected to a position of trust in her community. She abused that trust and defrauded taxpayers for her own gain,” Attorney General Henry said. “Prosecuting these crimes is vital to maintaining the integrity of local government. My office will continue to protect taxpayers and ens...
Courts

Former Jewelry Store Manager Sentenced to Probation for $100K Theft

(WNY News Now) – An Orchard Park man received a probation sentence after pleading guilty to stealing $100,000 in cash and merchandise from his employer, a local jewelry store, over nearly a year.Buffalo, N.Y. – Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced that Jason T. Badagliacca, 38, was sentenced to five years of probation by Erie County Court Justice Kenneth F. Case. The former inventory manager admitted to embezzling approximately $100,000 from his employer, a jewelry store, between September 2021 and August 2022.According to investigators, Badagliacca manipulated business records to cover up the thefts, which involved both merchandise and cash. Authorities reported that he took precious stones and jewelry, selling them independently, and pocketed payments from customers w...