Theft Crimes

December 10, 2008

Massachusetts Robbery Attempts, With And Without Weapons, Continue To Rise…And Sometimes Fail

Reports say that robberies are on the rise. I suppose that is not a big surprise, given the economic downturn we are dealing with.

Some of the attempts do have some entertainment value, though.
For example, let’s begin with such an attempt from earlier this very week. We turn to Lowell, Massachusetts. There, we find a peaceful scene. A grandmother and her 8-year-old grandson inside their home. Enjoying the day, perhaps happy that the snow from Sunday had stopped. Norman Rockwell type of scene.

Suddenly, there is a knock at the door.

End of peaceful scene.

Grandmother and Grandson were suddenly terrorized. A man and woman burst into the home, demanding money. Actually, they were more specific than that. With masks on, Grandmother tells us, “They kept wanting $1,000. They kept saying, ‘You got $1,000!”

Grandmother explained to them that she didn’t have that much money in the house.

The duo did not belie her. They demanded her purse, which she told them was in another room.

“So when he went for my pocketbook, I told my grandson run and get the police,” she said.

The 8-year-old did as Grandmother told him. He bolted from the house and ran about 100 yards to a gas station, screaming for help.

“I ran in there. I told them to call 911, because people in my house wanted money,” said the grandson.

Right after the child ran out, the couple fled without getting any money. They apparently sought to get away, but, naturally, ran in the same direction as the boy.
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December 7, 2008

OJ Simpson Sentenced to at Least Nine Years in Prison for Armed Robbery

by Altman & Altman

Former football great OJ Simpson has been sentenced to up to 33 years in prison-with the possibility of parole after 9 years-for his involvement in an armed dispute at a Las Vegas hotel. On October 3-13 years to the day that the 61-year-old was acquitted of murdering his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman-Simpson was convicted of 12 charges of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to kidnap.

During his sentencing hearing in Las Vegas, Simpson, 61, apologized to Judge Jackie Glass, saying he never intended to hurt anyone and that he was only trying to get back his property. He acknowledged he was wrong in approaching the confrontation the way that he did and said that he didn’t know that he was breaking the law.

On September 13, 2007, Simpson led a group of men, a few of them armed, into a room at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino. They were supposed to get sports memorabilia back from dealers Al Beardsley and Bruce Fromong. Simpson claims the items were stolen from him.

Simpson denies knowing that any of the men planned on bringing weapons, but two of his co-defendants claim that he told them to bring guns.

Four of the other men charged with the armed robbery crime worked out deals with the prosecution and testified against Simpson and co-defendant CJ Stewart. Simpson and Stewart were found guilty of all charges against them.

Criminal defense attorneys for Simpson say they intend to appeal the verdict. They say Simpson was unable to obtain a fair trial because of the infamous 1995 murder trial. Even though a Los Angeles jury found him not guilty of the murders of Nicole and Ron, the former football hero became a social outcast and many people in the public continue to question his innocence.

Anyone charged with any crime in the United States is entitled to a fair criminal trial-even if he or she is an infamous person or has been charged or convicted for unrelated crimes in the past.

O.J. Simpson to serve least nine years in prison, CNN, December 5, 2008
Simpson Sentenced to at Least 9 Years in Prison, New York Times, December 5, 2008

Related Web Resources:

O.J. Simpson Police Report, TMZ, September 13, 2007
The Simpson trial timeline, USA Today Continue reading

December 3, 2008

Multiple Fraud Suspect In Boston Red Sox Scheme Is Retired

by Altman & Altman

You know, Massachusetts is not the only state with laws against fraud. It does turn out to be local news, though, when the Commonwealth’s favorite, if sometimes controversial, team is used in the scam.

Charles P., 38, of Jamestown, Rhode Island (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) is in a bit of Red Sox-related trouble. You see, he is accused of scamming, and trying to scam, nearly $1 million from people and a credit union by posing as a Red Sox scout, a real estate investor, cancer survivor, and a philanthropic benefactor all rolled into one. As of Tuesday afternoon, however, he was given a newer identity. This one turns out to be legitimate, though.

He is a criminal defendant being held without bail in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Surprisingly enough, it turns out that the Defendant was not a Red Sox scout, had nothing to do with real estate, and didn’t have cancer. .. although State Police Lt. Col. Steven O’Donnell said that the Defendant made weekly trips to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for “cancer treatments” to fool his own girlfriend.

Apparently, having cancer is some kind of aphrodisiac in Rhode Island…at least with this couple. However, the romance dimmed when the girlfriend discovered that the Defendant allegedly had collected $435,000 from her boss at American Power Conversion for real estate investments that never materialized — and were never going to.

Did you know that money issues tend to be a leading cause of break-ups in the United States? Fraud apparently tends to aggravates things.

Upon learning about the Defendant’s scheme, his girlfriend is said to have pressured him to repay her boss.

And he did.

Unfortunately, he did so by writing out a check for $315,000 to the Greenwood Credit Union on a closed account from Bank of Rhode Island. Not only that, but a teller recognized him from media reports about his arrest in November for allegedly posing as a Red Sox scout to get $6,000 from a woman. The teller made a call to the state police.

“Arrest in November? Red Sox?”, you exclaim. “What’s up with that?”

Well, you see, the Defendant previously became Legally Challenged in November, when he was accused of scamming a woman out of more than $6,000 by pretending he was a Boston Red Sox talent agent with access to baseball tickets. Of course, that brush with the law only gained him a single count of fraudulently obtaining money under false pretenses. He was freed after his arraignment.
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December 1, 2008

Massachusetts Alleged Drunk Drivers And Robbers – Escape Statistics Are In: You Are Losing

by Altman & Altman

North Attleboro, Massachusetts, had more than its fair share of attempted escapes from law enforcement last week. Two such cases graced the hallowed halls of Attleboro District Court last Friday.

One case involved some teenagers who led the police on a high-speed chase into the welcoming arms of Rhode Island. The teens, a 15-year-old girl and three lads of 17, all of Providence, (hereinafter, “Defendants 1”) ,allegedly broke into vehicles at an Attleboro movie theatre and then took off in a stolen car.

Defendants 1 then led the police on a chase on Interstate 295 at speeds up to 100 miles per hour. Once they reached Rhode Island, the North Attleboro police broke off the chase.

Home free?

Afraid not.

Three of them were returned to Massachusetts (one is trying to fight extradition) to answer charges of breaking and entering, vandalism charges and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The driver also faces traffic offenses.

You see, the North Attleboro police are not alone in the world. They have friends. Take Rhode Island law enforcement, for example. Rhode Island authorities picked up the chase, which ended on Route 7 in Smithfield, R.I., when the vehicle crashed into a brushy area off the highway.

So, other than the Massachusetts charges, they all now all face related charges in Rhode Island.

While two of the above-mentioned boys were arraigned in North Attleboro District Court last Friday, they had plenty of people to talk to. For example, there was Dennis W., 23, of North Attleboro (Hereinafter, “Defendant 2”). The police say that Defendant 2, an alleged drunk driver, struck a utility pole and drove off before calling a friend to drive his car.
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November 28, 2008

Massachusetts Mother Held For Making Death Threats Against The Court and DSS Workers

by Altman & Altman

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, there are a few families for whom this holiday season has not begun so well.

Let’s turn to Hampshire, Massachusetts, for example. On Wednesday, as the rest of us prepared for family gatherings and big dinners, Debra B., 53, of Northampton (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) learned that she would be spending the holiday as a guest of the Commonwealth. It seems that she and the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) have had a disagreement of sorts.

The disagreement allegedly included some threats.

Threats that have brought to light what one might call a dysfunctional family situation.

The case has a bit of a history to it. It apparently began back in 2006 when the Defendant’s son was taken away from her by DSS. This was allegedly occasioned by the 7-year-old autistic boy’s complaint that she had duct-taped him to a chair and threatened him with a knife. Most of the criminal charges against the Defendant in that incident were eventually dropped.

The heated custody fight over her son did not end so easily.

As the battle between DSS and the Defendant raged, she is alleged to have done certain things which were of concern to the Commonwealth. One such thing is that she was reported to have looked up the home addresses of some social workers on the Internet. She is also said to have threatened to shoot Judge Judd J. Carhart at a hearing and told another woman in court that she was “in her crosshairs.”

This landed her in jail on September 8th.

Perhaps misunderstanding the message this was supposed to have sent, the Defendant allegedly threatened to kill a different judge, as if this would clear things up.

Things were not cleared up. Law enforcement sought a search warrant for her apartment instead.
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November 20, 2008

Massachusetts Department Of Corrections Official Accused Of Stealing Guns And Money

by Altman & Altman

You know, some people just belong in jail.

And some people are in jail…working for the jail.

Well, at least they were…!

Take Gary M., 48, of Berkley, a lieutenant with the Department of Correction in Boston (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) for example. He changed seats in the criminal justice arena when he was arrested Wednesday at his home and charged with stealing $100,000 in state funds, firearms and other items from the department for his own use.

The Defendant is now looking at charges of larceny by scheme over $250 and procurement fraud.

“How can a thing like this happen?”, you ask. After all, wasn’t the Defendant supposed to be upholding law and order as an shining example of clean living to those nasty inmates?

Well, maybe. But, according to authorities, his shine has dimmed a bit.

The Defendant had been responsible for the purchase of firearms, ammunition and other specialized equipment since 2002. Only thing is, though, he was supposed to be getting the stuff for the Department of Correction…not himself. He is now accused of buying numerous such items, including five 40-caliber handguns, a machete, a hunting bow and a baseball pitching machine, for himself .

Investigators also allege that between 2004 and 2008, the Defendant falsely reported the value, cost and quantity of equipment department officials believed they had paid for by misrepresenting invoices he had produced. He is also accused of knowingly submitting invoices for more merchandise than he actually used or needed and then using the difference in value as credit to buy items for himself, such as a baseball pitching machine, a motorcycle/ATV trailer, cameras, hunting equipment, firearms and other items. By employing this scheme, he allegedly caused the DOC to be improperly charged by the distributor for supplies that were never received by the DOC.
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November 18, 2008

Burglaries Abound Throughout Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

As we drift ever closer to Thanksgiving, it would appear that some people are ready to name the pre-holiday weeks as Thanks! Taking!

In other words, there has been a rash of burglaries throughout the Commonwealth recently.

One rather enterprising culprit is believed to have cut a hole into the roof of a pharmacy in Swampscott, Massachusetts, thereafter stealing some prescription drugs.

It has not been revealed the nature of these drugs…whether they were sedatives for dealing with the holiday jitters, stimulants to help one work overtime in order to afford better Christmas gifts or, simply, a variety of goodies to sell on the street. One thing we do know, however, is that the burglary has left the local law enforcement baffled.

Police said they have no idea how the suspects scaled the walls of the building, but once they got on the roof, it is clear they used a power tool to saw a hole through the sheet metal. They then lowered themselves into the pharmacy. A second hole about the same size, believed to be the exit, was discovered in the wall of the store, according to police.

“Any time someone goes to that extreme you have to wonder just how dangerous they could be if you were to come in contact with them,” said a concerned customer.
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November 6, 2008

Breaking And Entering And Maybe Drugs Lead To Murder Charges Plus One In Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

This one isn’t so funny. It involves the type of tragedy that happens all the time, particularly in urban areas. Of course, this one has a couple of twists.

This wasn’t the big city…it was Winchester, Massachusetts. In a peaceful dead-end street lined with single and multifamily houses where residents have lived for generations. Chris and Bryan Barbaro were two brothers living on the same street where they were raised. The same street where their parents and sister still live.

Now, they are both dead.

In October, 2007, Wally S., 30 (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) allegedly kicked in the door and forced his way into the Barbaros’ three-family home and shot 48-year-old Bryan Barbaro in the chest, a wound he survived after being rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital. Brother Chris was shot in the forehead and died at that time.

Despite being wounded, Bryan Barbaro was able to call 911 and report that both he and his brother had been shot, officials said.

Although Assistant District Attorney Nathaniel Yeager told the court that 50-year-old Chris Barbaro was killed by the gunshot to the forehead, the Defendant was not immediately charged with the murder.
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November 5, 2008

A Massachusetts Bodybuilding Ex-Boston Firefighter Faces Allegations Of Fraud And Breaking Restraining Orders

by Altman & Altman

You know, sometimes, when it rains…it pours. It’s happened to all of us and, now, it is happening to a particular former Boston firefighter.

Albert A., 46, (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) had enough problems. First of all, he had lost his job as a firefighter after participating in a bodybuilding contest despite claiming he was permanently disabled. You see, he had applied for a disability pension, saying he slipped on a staircase March 21. Not too long thereafter, though, he was found to have participated in a bodybuilding contest.

Woops.

Now, his fall on the staircase is matched by his falling in love with someone who seems to have fallen out of love with him. The result? He now faces criminal charges that he has violated a restraining order.

According to his ex-love, the Defendant has stalked her with such ferocity for six years that she finally she took out a restraining order and was too petrified to leave her Jamaica Plain apartment. She claims that she keeps her doors locked and closes her curtains “because he looks up to my window when (he’s) not in my hallway,” she wrote in the affidavit.

“He constantly calls me at work, harassing, at home, my parents, my siblings and my children,” she wrote in an Oct. 28 affidavit. “He gets in my hallway and stands by my door for hours. He follows me everywhere, and for that reason I am in fear of leaving my house.” According to the affidavit, the Defendant has been harassing her for six years. Yet, on the application for the restraining order she lists herself as having a current or present dating or engagement relationship with him.
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October 27, 2008

Just Outside Massachusetts, Halloween-Style Robbery Starts Early

by Altman & Altman

As I travel between our offices in Boston, Cambridge and Salem, I see that the Halloween festivities have begun; each day I notice more and more early revelers prancing around in costume, acting nonchalant and trying to pretend that they always dress that way.

They don’t fool me…but I will return the favor and keep this week’s daily blogs on a Halloween theme. It will culminate with Friday’s blog which will examine whether “witch-hunts” still exist today.

Unfortunately, if the various originally-clad pedestrians believe they are amongst the earliest to so stride, they are too late.

One of the loyal readers to this daily blog has brought my attention to an event dating back to July in which, it would appear New Hampshire resident, James C., 49, (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) got a really early start at wearing his costume. Rather than treats, however, he got a trip to the courthouse and charges of robbery.

He was dressed as a tree.

Just as the local Citizen Bank branch opened on a July Saturday morning, the Defendant walked in with leafy boughs duct-taped to his head and torso. Figuring he could never be identified by either teller or camera because of his very local foliage, he robbed the place.
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