Hoosier students freed from school debt in multistate settlement
More than 195,000 students will not have to pay their school debt after a national settlement agreement between Career Education Corporation and 49 states, including Indiana.
Fraud
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US: Thousands victimized in organic grain fraud scheme
Federal prosecutors say thousands of individuals and businesses were victims of a large-scale scheme in which ordinary corn and soybeans were fraudulently marketed nationwide as “certified organic.”
Prosecutors concede 3 Buncich convictions should be vacated
Federal prosecutors concede there wasn’t enough evidence to convict former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich on three of the five wire fraud counts he was found guilty of and he should be resentenced. Prosecutors say they failed to introduce sufficient evidence of “Federal reserve payroll fund” transfers alleged in three counts of the indictment against Buncich and “the Court should vacate Buncich’s convictions on those counts.”
Indiana attorney charged with mail fraud still at large
Federal authorities are still searching for a former South Bend attorney who faces several charges of mail fraud stemming from his alleged involvement in an investment scheme that exploited elderly victims.
Indiana lawyer charged with fraud in alleged investment scheme
A lawyer who formerly worked in northern Indiana and already was ordered to repay more than $2.5 million to clients now is facing criminal charges. Federal prosecutors say 61-year-old Sven Eric Marshall, formerly of South Bend, is facing five counts of mail fraud for allegedly running an “elder abuse scam” through an investment company named Trust & Advisory Services of Indiana Inc.
Convicted forger, ID thief loses appeal of suit against victims
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the grant of summary judgment to several relatives and the landlord of man convicted of stealing and frequently using his parents' financial accounts and personal items to fund his gambling. The COA found the relatives were entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Mueller accuses Manafort of breaking plea agreement by lying
The special counsel in the Russia investigation is accusing former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort of violating his plea agreement by repeatedly lying to federal investigators, an extraordinary allegation that could expose him to a lengthier prison sentence — and potentially more criminal charges.
Prosecutor: 27 carpenters ordered to repay $531K to union
Federal prosecutors say 27 carpenters have been ordered to repay more than $500,000 to their union after pleading guilty to health care theft.
COA affirms denial of Kroger sales tax fraud claim
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the denial of a man’s fraud complaint against several grocery stores after finding his claims did not meet the specificity requirements of Indiana Trial Rule 9(B).
COA upholds dismissal of adoption petition after ‘fraud on the court’
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a trial court ruling setting aside a Lawrence County adoption, finding the child’s mother and grandfather committed fraud on the court by falsely claiming they did not know who the child’s biological father was in an effort to allow the grandfather to adopt the child.
West Virginia Supreme Court halts impeachment trials
West Virginia’s Supreme Court has effectively halted the legislature’s remaining efforts to impeach the state’s justices as a violation of the separation of powers doctrine.
COA affirms breach, fraud, unjust enrichment claims brought by bank
A bank that brought breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment claims against its loanee won each of those claims on appeal, but failed to state a claim that the loanee violated the “usual and customary practices” laid out in its participation agreement, according to a Friday opinion from the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Southern District renews warning against jury duty scam
Increasing jury duty scams have led the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to once again warn Hoosiers of potentially falling prey to an illegitimate summons. The court is reminding the public of tips to safeguard against scammers.
Manafort to be sentenced in February; appears in wheelchair
A judge has set a February sentencing date for Paul Manafort, who appeared in court Friday for a post-trial hearing in a wheelchair and green jail jumpsuit. The hearing in federal court in Alexandria was largely procedural but provided the first glimpse of the former Trump campaign chairman since he began cooperating with prosecutors in special counsel Robert Mueller’s office.
Appeals court reverses ruling for purchasers in rent-to-buy home case
Would-be homebuyers who won a fraud decision against a company that sells “rent-to-buy” fixer homes after they were evicted lost at the Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday. An appellate panel reversed a ruling against Indianapolis-based Rainbow Realty, ordering Marion Superior Court to rule in its favor instead.
Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen boasts of aiding Mueller investigation
President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer says he is providing “critical information” as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.
Muncie official, businessman indicted on fraud charges
Federal prosecutors say a Muncie city official and a Muncie businessman have been indicted on fraud-related charges connected to an FBI investigation of the city’s Sanitary District.
Company ordered to pay $31.9M to SEC for biofuel fraud
Evansville-based Imperial Petroleum Inc. has been ordered to pay nearly $32 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission after it failed to reply to the SEC’s court filings seeking damages in a biofuels fraud case that resulted in prison time for the former company president.
Disbarred attorney loses mail fraud conviction appeal
A disbarred Indiana attorney who was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to two years in federal prison after stealing more than $330,000 from a grocery store receivership has lost his appeal of both his conviction and sentence.
Ex-West Virginia Supreme Court justice pleads guilty
A retired West Virginia Supreme Court justice is now a convicted felon. Menis Ketchum pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to a felony count of fraud related to his personal use of a state vehicle and gas fuel card in a scandal that has led to upcoming impeachment trials for the remaining justices.