Our mission is to expose and remedy corruption in the Probate Court of Cook County, Illinois. We assist, educate and enlighten families of the dead, the dying, the disabled and the aged to better understand their rights in order to protect themselves from the excesses of the Probate Court of Cook County. ProbateSharks.com is dedicated to networking the human element of people to people. We join together in reforming the corrupt Cook County Probate Court system.

Showing posts with label theft. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Disbarred KC lawyer pleads guilty in $1.2 million theft from St. Luke’s Health System

Editor's note: This Shark watches lawyers stealing from wards in the Probate Court of Cook County yet the IARDC does nothing to stop them. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

Disbarred KC lawyer pleads guilty in $1.2 million theft from St. Luke’s Health System

Alan B. Gallas pleaded guilty in federal court
His firm served as a collection agency for patients who were behind on payments to the hospital system

Alan B. Gallas, 64, pleaded guilty to mail fraud in U.S. District Court in Kansas City. He admitted taking about $1.2 million from St. Luke’s Health System.

By Tony Rizzo
trizzo@kcstar.com

A recently disbarred Kansas City lawyer pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $1.2 million from St. Luke’s Health System.
Alan B. Gallas, 64, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Kansas City to mail fraud.
His firm served as a collection agency for patients who were behind on payments to the hospital system.
Gallas admitted that from 2009 to July 2015, he defrauded St. Luke’s Health System out of $1,224,264. He must pay that amount in restitution as part of Wednesday’s plea agreement.
According to federal court documents, money collected by his firm on behalf of St. Luke’s was placed in a trust account. Periodically, those payments would be sent to St. Luke’s.

But according to the documents, Gallas had employees of his law firm withhold money from payments made to St. Luke’s by placing thousands of payments on “hold” status, then having that money transferred from the trust account to the law firm’s operating account.
According to prosecutors, Gallas withheld 62 payments totaling $89,495 in 2009; 439 payments totaling $132,167 in 2010; 613 payments totaling $79,776 in 2011; 601 payments totaling $211,391 in 2012; 699 payments totaling $266,696 in 2013; 625 payments totaling $227,892 in 2014; and through July 2015 he withheld 625 payments totaling $216,845.
Last fall, Gallas, a former president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation, voluntarily surrendered his law licenses in Kansas and Missouri. He also has been disbarred in both states.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10.

Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article71563267.html#storylink=cpy

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Criminal case against court-appointed guardian moves forward

Editor's note: This Shark asks how would a case as this effect the crooks running the Probate Court of Cook County? In the Estate of Alice R. Gore, the entire court worked in collusion with the criminal activity of the guardians and thus no criminal charges would ever be applied. The IARDC operated in full sympathy to the unethical activities of the court appointed lawyers. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

Criminal case against court-appointed guardian moves forward

Darcy Spears

5:26 PM, Mar 21, 2016

6:20 PM, Mar 21, 2016

Darcy Spears investigates.

KTNV

Theft and exploitation; those are the charges one woman must face, charges that were ignored by a court that is supposed to be guarding our most vulnerable. Contact 13's Darcy Spears has more in a first-of-its kind case since she began investigating Clark County's troubled guardianship system.

A small victory comes Monday from a criminal case involving a daughter who wanted to carry out her father's wishes and care for him when the time came.

She wasn't allowed to do that by order of Clark County Family Court. Now, the woman who the court put in charge is facing trial.

Terri Black's father, Del, was deemed incompetent and the court got involved when Terri suspected Del's long-time companion, Helen Natko, of taking his money. Despite hours of testimony in family court, Helen was appointed to be Del's guardian.

"This whole ordeal has cost our family $826,000 as of this date," says Rick Black. "And that is a travesty that you have to spend that kind of money to defend your family against a crook."

Large amounts of money were transferred from Del's accounts to Helen's. The Blacks say Family Court Hearing Master Jon Norheim and Judge Charles Hoskin ignored evidence -- the same evidence that the district attorney felt warranted felony charges of theft and exploitation.

On Monday, a judge decided those charges will stick.

"I do find the fact that she transferred the money out, and then 24 days later transferred it back in, establishes some evidence to support the state's allegations against her," Judge Janiece Marshall said from the bench on Monday.

State law prevents a person convicted of crimes like exploitation and theft from becoming a guardian.

The Blacks say they've endured tremendous pain, lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and most importantly, they lost precious time with Terri's dad, who died in July. They believe all of it could have been avoided.

"That evidence was in front of the family court to completely disqualify Helen Natko in June of 2013," says Rick.

Terri finally feels like someone is listening.

"For the first time in 3 years maybe justice will be served for my dad going forward," says Terri.

The criminal case goes on to District Court now.

We asked Helen Natko and her lawyer for a response but they declined to comment.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Thief Who Preyed on Elderly Lady Surrenders: Police

Editor's note: This Shark has observed that even when thefts of Alice R. Gore's property were reported to the Probate Court of Cook County nothing was ever done to punish the perps. Maybe Cook County should start drinking the same water as Joliet? Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

Thief Who Preyed on Elderly Lady Surrenders: Police

The woman, who stole as much as $17,000, was released on $5,000 bail, police said.

Joliet, IL

By Joseph Hosey (Patch Staff) December 18, 2015

Thief Who Preyed on Elderly Lady Surrenders: Police

JOLIET, IL — A thief wanted for allegedly exploiting an elderly lady by writing checks in her name, stealing her cash, and using her identity to purchase electronics surrendered to the police Thursday evening.
Vivian Burgos, 29, faces charges of aggravated identity theft, financial exploitation of the elderly, and theft. Burgos was released on $5,000 bail.
Burgos lives in Aurora, according to police. The warrant for her arrest lists addresses for her in both Joliet and Marseilles.
Burgos used a 72-year-old woman’s identity to purchase more than $300 worth of electronics, according to a criminal complaint on file in Will County court. Burgos also allegedly wrote checks to herself from the same woman’s bank account for more than $300, and stole more than $500 cash.
In total, Burgos may have stolen as much as $17,000, according to the complaint.
Burgos did all of this in May, the complaint said.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Wyckoff Lawyer Charged With Theft

Editor's note: This Shark witnessed the inaction of the Probate Court of Cook County, Judge Kawamoto when Alice R. Gore's daughter requested an investigation into two of Alice's safety deposit boxes. The boxes allegedly held 80 lbs of antique silver coins. The bank only stated that the boxes were owned by "others". What "others"? What happened to the fortune in coins? Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

Wyckoff Lawyer Charged With Theft

William E. Gahwyler was supposed to put $15,000 into a trust, but used the money for personal expenses instead, authorities said.

Wyckoff, NJ

By Daniel Hubbard (Patch Staff) September 15, 2015

A Wyckoff attorney was charged with theft after he allegedly used thousands of dollars last year for “personal expenses,” authorities said.
William E. Gahwyler, 53, received approximately $15,000 from an attorney that was to be placed into a trust fund for a “landlord and tenant” matter, said Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.
Gahwyler allegedly placed the money into his business account and used the money to pay for personal expenses, Molinelli said.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Former Oshkosh financial adviser charged with bilking elderly clients

Editor's note: Aside from being a fake lawyer, Jean is not perpetrating anything that the real lawyers in the Probate Court of Cook County have done. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

Former Oshkosh financial adviser charged with bilking elderly clients

A former financial adviser in Oshkosh already facing charges for stealing from her clients is being held on $1 million bail after she was charged with four additional counts of theft.

The new charges say that Jean Walsh-Josephson, 56, of Oshkosh, stole more than $475,000 from elderly clients.

Walsh-Josephson had been charged in August with theft and forgery involving a client's account at the Thrivent Financial in Oshkosh.

Oshkosh police, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and the Office of Commissioner for Insurance are continuing the investigation. Police say Thrivent Financial has contacted all of Walsh-Josephson's clients and the company is cooperating with the investigation.

Full Article & Source:
Former Oshkosh financial adviser charged with bilking elderly clients

N.J. man charged - again - as phony lawyer

OH, THIS GUY AGAIN.

Leaford George Cameron, a wannabe lawyer who looks more like a crazed hypnotist, made news in 2013 when he was arrested by Delaware County authorities for allegedly impersonating an attorney.

When detectives asked whether he was licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, "his reply was that he should be," according to the criminal complaint.

Now, Cameron is in even bigger trouble.

U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger announced yesterday that Cameron, 62, of Burlington, N.J., has been indicted for mail fraud, wire fraud and false statements.

Cameron allegedly ran a fraudulent law practice between 2003 and this year and defrauded approximately 74 "clients" who were residents of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Jamaica, and India.

Cameron even appeared in court, primarily handling immigration matters.

"The longevity of Cameron's alleged fraud, the amount of victims already identified, and far reaching impact in this case is staggering," said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia.

"HSI will continue to investigate and seek out those who may have fallen prey to this alleged imposter's scheme. We encourage anyone with any contact with this person to contact us right away," Kelleghan said.

Anyone who used Cameron's services should call Homeland Security Investigations at 215-717-4987.

If convicted of all charges, Cameron faces a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison.

Full Article & Source:
N.J. man charged - again - as phony lawyer

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Rocky River attorney indicted for theft from veteran's estate

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Rocky River attorney indicted for theft from veteran's estate

Posted: Aug 29, 2014 2:08 PM CDT Updated: Aug 29, 2014 2:09 PM CDT

By Cleveland 19 Digital Team

Connect

web@19actionnews.com

Rocky River attorney indicted for theft from veteran's estate (Source: WOIO)

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - A local attorney has been indicted for stealing more $250,000 from the estate of an Army veteran, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty announced Friday.
The Grand Jury indicted Kevin Purcell, 61, on two counts of aggravated theft and one count of tampering with records; all are third-degree felonies.
Purcell lives in Cleveland and has a law office in Rocky River.
The State of Ohio charges that Purcell served first as a guardian for disabled Army veteran John A. Kane, and then as administrator of his estate after Kane died in Columbiana County on March 15, 2012 at age 56.
Purcell used those positions to steal $262,920.24 for his personal use.
The case was referred to the Prosecutor's Office by Cuyahoga County Probate Court.
Kane's sister had filed suit against Purcell after discovering that her brother's funeral bills had not been paid.
On January 9, 2014, Purcell was found guilty in Probate Court of concealing assets belonging to the Guardianship of John A. Kane.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Woman stole over $100K by altering stepfather's will, investigators say

Editor's note: How did the Faskowitz Clan get away with Irv's estate in FL? Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

News Crime News

Woman stole over $100K by altering stepfather's will, investigators say

By Wayne K. Roustan Sun Sentinelcontact the reporter

Sister accused of stealing late step-father's estate

Brigitte Gursky charged with grand theft, fraud, forgery, records showed

A Tamarac woman is accused of altering her stepfather's will to steal more than $100,000 in inheritance from two sibling beneficiaries.

Brigitte Lee Gursky, 46, forged documents and lied about it, according to the arrest warrant.
Gursky allegedly filed court documents shortly after Troy Barger Sr. died in July 2013, falsifying the value of his estate and forging her siblings' signatures, the warrant stated.
Advising Gursky not to speak in court, defense attorney Louis Pironti said the full story has not been told.

"Nothing's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt and certainly everybody's presumed innocent," he said. "There's a lot more to the case than meets the eye, that's for sure."
Barger Sr. was a career Navy navigator. The 33-year veteran lost both his legs during his years of service. He died in 2013 at the age of 74, said Gursky's sister Gina Lanzo after Gursky's bond court appearance.
"Basically, she forged my name stating that I was waiving my rights to my [step]father's estate, a blatant forgery," Lanzo said.
Lanzo said her stepfather owned a specially modified recreational vehicle worth over $100,000, but Gursky traded it in for an Audi for herself and another car for her adult son.
Gursky also has lived in her stepfather's Tamarac home since filing a quit claim deed putting the property in her name, Lanzo said. Broward public records show a quit claim deed that was executed in June 2012 and recorded in October 2013.
Their mother, Antonietta Barger, died at age 74 in 2012 in her native Italy. She did not leave a will, but Lanzo and Gursky are entangled in Italian probate court over their mother's estate, Lanzo said.
Broward Sheriff's Detective Scott Stone told Broward Judge John Hurley that Gursky had expressed a need to go to Italy to handle those legal matters, but the judge set bond at $100,000 and ordered Gursky to surrender her U.S. and Italian passports. She also was ordered to wear a GPS monitor and to stay away from airports and seaports.
Arrested Wednesday, Gursky is facing grand theft, fraud and forgery charges, jail records showed.
Calling her stepfather "stoic and fair," Lanzo said he would want this family skirmish ended.
"I know what my father would want," Lanzo said. "Justice."
wkroustan@tribpub.com or 954-356-4303

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Lorain County woman indicted for kidnapping her mother and illegally trying to control family estate

Cuyahoga Co. Prosecutor files 5 felony counts

Joe Pagonakis

5:58 PM, Mar 6, 2015

7:32 PM, Mar 6, 2015

Lorain County woman indicted for kidnapping mom

WEWS

Lorain Co. daughter indicted for kidnapping her mother and illegally trying to control family estate

WEWS

Copyright 2015 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Lorain County woman indicted for kidnapping mom

WEWS

CLEVELAND - Jaleh Saghafi Presutto is facing felony charges of kidnapping, abduction, theft and fraud after Cuyahoga County prosecutors said she kidnapped her mother.
The grand jury indictment alleges Presutto held her mother against her will at her Lorain County home and coerced her mother to give her power of attorney and change the family will.
Other family members said their mother Fourough Bakhtiar Saghafi was given an independent medical evaluation which concluded she suffers from dementia and is not fully capable of making her own decision.
Saghafi's son Daruish Saghafi believes his sister coerced his mother into giving her power of attorney and change the family will, shifting control of millions of dollars in the family estate.
Saghafi believes his sister talked his mother into filing divorce proceedings against his father in an effort to exert more control over the family estate.
"My brothers and ten grandchildren have been barricaded from seeing my mother for more than two years now," said Saghafi. "My mother was abducted and kidnapped, and the divorce proceedings should never have been filed. We know as a family that my mother would have never filed for divorce against my mother."
Lorain County Probate Judge James T. Walther has taken action, suspending Jaleh Saghafi Presutto's power of attorney in light of the criminal charges against her.
Zachary Simonoff has now been appointed as the mother's guardian as the criminal case heads to court.
However, Judge Walter is allowing the divorce proceedings to continue despite the indictments.
Simonoff said Fourough Bakhtiar Saghafi is capable of making her own decisions, a ruling that was upheld when appealed in court.
Jaleh Saghafi Presutto's attorney Anthony rich issued the following statement in response to the case and felony charges:

"Jaleh S. Presutto is falsely accused of kidnapping, abduction and theft related charges in Cuyahoga County. Jaleh looks forward to demonstrating her complete innocence of all charges to a Cuyahoga County jury later this year. As you are aware, the charges against Ms. Presutto came about only after her father and brothers began repeatedly losing their respective legal positions, arguments, and cases in both Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court, Cuyahoga County Probate Court, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and Lorain County Probate Court.

When they were unable to convince the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office that a crime was committed, they turned their collective attention and malicious intentions to pursuing venue and frivolous criminal charges in Cuyahoga County."

Still Saghafi's son Kourosh Sagahfi believes divorce proceedings should be put on hold until the criminal case is completed.
"This is exploitation, this is elder abuse, this is classic by a bankrupted daughter," said Saghafi. "There is no way Lorain County court should allow the divorce proceedings to continue until the criminal case is decided."
A preliminary hearing on the felony charges is set for Cuyahoga County court on March 12.

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Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Disbarred KC lawyer pleads guilty in $1.2 million theft from St. Luke’s Health System

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Criminal case against court-appointed guardian moves forward

Criminal case against court-appointed guardian moves forward

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Thief Who Preyed on Elderly Lady Surrenders: Police

Editor's note: This Shark has observed that even when thefts of Alice R. Gore's property were reported to the Probate Court of Cook County nothing was ever done to punish the perps. Maybe Cook County should start drinking the same water as Joliet? Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

Thief Who Preyed on Elderly Lady Surrenders: Police

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Wyckoff Lawyer Charged With Theft

Wyckoff Lawyer Charged With Theft

Wyckoff, NJ

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Former Oshkosh financial adviser charged with bilking elderly clients

N.J. man charged - again - as phony lawyer

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Rocky River attorney indicted for theft from veteran's estate

Rocky River attorney indicted for theft from veteran's estate

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Woman stole over $100K by altering stepfather's will, investigators say

Woman stole over $100K by altering stepfather's will, investigators say

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Lorain County woman indicted for kidnapping her mother and illegally trying to control family estate

Lorain County woman indicted for kidnapping her mother and illegally trying to control family estate

Cuyahoga Co. Prosecutor files 5 felony counts

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