Russian cybercrime group behind $16M Phobos ransomware attacks busted

BALTIMORE, MD—The US Department of Justice announced the unsealing of criminal charges against two Russian nationals, Roman Berezhnoy, 33, and Egor Nikolaevich Glebov, 39, this week. They are accused of operating a cybercrime group that used Phobos ransomware to attack over 1,000 organizations worldwide, earning more than $16 million in ransom payments. Berezhnoy and Glebov are alleged to have been […]

Attorney General warns of Super Bowl scams, fraud

BALTIMORE, MD—Super Bowl LIX is almost here, but scammers have been working all year-long to come up with new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting fans. Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is warning consumers to be vigilant against fraud related to betting, tickets or prizes, streaming services, and even merchandise. Common Super Bowl Scams: Online Betting Scams: Illegal betting websites […]

Baltimore County man convicted in $20 million insurance fraud scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore County  man has been convicted on 13 counts of fraud, three counts of money laundering, two counts of filing false tax returns, and one count of aggravated identity theft for his role in a $20 million life insurance scheme. Federal prosecutors say that 77-year-old James William Wilson, Jr., of Owings Mills, defrauded life insurance companies by taking […]

Harford County man sentenced for aggravated identity theft bank fraud scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—A Harford County man has been sentenced to prison for an identity theft and bank fraud scheme that resulted in over $1 million in losses. U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Victor Ojo, 30, of Belcamp, to 72 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Victor Ojo received the sentence for aggravated identity theft […]

Attorney General Brown warns consumers to beware of fraudulent charities, scams when donating to California wildfire relief

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is warning consumers to be wary of fraudulent charities and scams when donating to wildfire relief efforts in California. Many people are eager to help those affected by the wildfires, but scammers often take advantage of disasters to set up fake charities. Before donating, check an organization’s registration with the Maryland Secretary of […]

Rosedale, Belcamp men indicted for unemployment insurance fraud scheme of more than $1 million

BALTIMORE, MD—Two Maryland men have been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $1 million in unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Daiwor Woah-Tee, 51, of Belcamp, and Dekwii Woah-Tee, 46, of Rosedale, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, respectively. The indictment was unsealed when the defendants were arrested on December 18, 2024, and […]

Former state employee from Essex sentenced to jail for felony theft, insurance fraud

BALTIMORE, MD—Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced that former state employee Shanell Angelia West, 46, of Essex, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for felony theft and insurance fraud. The charges stemmed from her actions during and after her 18-month employment with the Maryland Department of Labor. Judge Robert E. Cahill, Jr., of the Circuit Court for Baltimore […]

Two biotech CEOs convicted in fraud scheme involving COVID-19 drug

BALTIMORE, MD—Two CEOs were convicted by a federal jury in Maryland for a scheme to defraud investors about a drug being developed to treat HIV and COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Nader Pourhassan, 61, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Kazem Kazempour, 71, of Potomac, Maryland, were found guilty of the scheme involving CytoDyn Inc., a publicly traded […]