Honduran national sentenced in $14 million payroll scheme to defraud the IRS and workers’ compensation insurance company
IRS Criminal Investigation
Jacksonville, FL — Senior U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced Jose Molina-Herrera (Honduras) to 27 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States for the purpose of impeding the lawful functions of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The court also ordered Molina-Herrera to forfeit $867,005, which are proceeds of the wire fraud offense. In addition, Molina-Herrera was ordered to pay $3,558,579.42 in restitution to the IRS. Molina-Herrera entered a guilty plea on Nov. 1, 2024.
Industry warning notice: licenced software appearing on illegal market
Gambling Commission
Tackling unlicensed gambling is central to the Commission’s objective of preventing gambling from being a source of crime and disrupting this illegal activity at scale.
The Commission have become aware of casino games supplied by licensed operators appearing on unlicensed websites available to Great British (GB) consumers illegally.
These markets are unregulated, and do not provide the same safeguards that are required of operators. They often target vulnerable customers, such as those who have self-excluded via the GAMSTOP scheme. The websites may have inadequate social responsibility and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls in place and leave customers open to risks of fraud, data privacy issues and unfair practices. It is therefore imperative that the Commission, in collaboration with the gambling industry and key partners take all possible steps to mitigate risk to GB consumers.
Operation Venetic: ‘Bob the dog’ drugs traffickers ordered to repay nearly £1.2m
NCA
Two drugs traffickers whose organised crime group was brought down after sending a picture of a pet dog, have been told to hand over almost £1.2m.
Stefan Baldauf , 64, and Philip Lawson 63, were part of an organised crime group (OCG) that was brought to justice under Operation Venetic – the NCA-led response to the takedown of encrypted communications platform EncroChat in 2020.
The OCG orchestrated a sophisticated plan to send 448kg of amphetamine worth £45m, to Australian accomplices hidden in the arm of an excavator and even rigged an auction to ensure the drugs reached their intended recipients.