Latest news with #grandlarceny
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
A Fortuneteller Claimed He Could Ward Off Evil Spirits. Then He Allegedly Scammed an Elderly Woman Out of Thousands of Dollars
NEED TO KNOW An astrologer in New York has been charged with grand larceny after allegedly scamming an elderly woman out of thousands of dollars for fortune-telling services The elderly woman was driven to a local bank to withdraw money while she was receiving fortune-telling services in Hicksville, N.Y., and bank employees called police to investigate a potential scam Charging money for fortune-telling services in New York state is considered a misdemeanorAn astrologer in New York has been charged with grand larceny after allegedly scamming an elderly woman out of thousands of dollars for fortune-telling services. According to the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), 33-year-old Hemanth Kumar Muneppa was arrested on Thursday, July 17, after allegedly asking a 68-year-old woman to withdraw $42,000 from her bank account. Detectives said the woman initially visited a business in Hicksville, N.Y., on July 3 called Anjana Ji that offers astrology services such as psychic readings, according to its website. NBC 4 New York reported that Muneppa allegedly said that his services included the "power to fight evil spirits." That day, the woman — whose identity has not been made public — paid Muneppa $20,000 for fortune-telling services. On July 17, the woman was "receiving further fortune-telling services" at Anjana Ji, located on the city's South Broadway street, when she was allegedly asked to provide an additional $42,000. She was then driven to a nearby bank to withdraw the money. "The victim was advised she may be being scammed, and police were called for assistance," the NCPD said. Officers who arrived at the bank then arrested Muneppa in the parking lot "without incident." Muneppa has been charged with grand larceny in the third degree, attempted grand larceny in the third degree and two counts of fortune telling, according to police. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Mehwish Saeed, who owns a clothing store near the astrology shop, told NBC 4 that she believes the employees there are "just making people a fool." "Playing with somebody's feelings and giving them false hope. That's really bad," she told the outlet. In New York, charging for fortune-telling services is considered a class B misdemeanor — which can result in a three-month jail sentence, according to the state — unless it's being done solely for entertainment purposes. "A person is guilty of fortune telling when, for a fee or compensation which he directly or indirectly solicits or receives, he claims or pretends to tell fortunes, or holds himself out as being able, by claimed or pretended use of occult powers, to answer questions or give advice on personal matters or to exorcise, influence or affect evil spirits or curses; except that this section does not apply to a person who engages in the aforedescribed conduct as part of a show or exhibition solely for the purpose of entertainment or amusement," the law states. Detectives are requesting that anyone else who may have been a victim in this case contact the NCPD Second Squad at (516) 573-6200. Muneppa is next due in court on Aug. 14, court records show. Read the original article on People
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Long Island fortune teller arrested after charging woman more than $60,000, police say
A New York City man is facing grand larceny and fortune telling charges on Long Island. Nassau County Police said Hemanth Kumar Muneppa was arrested Thursday in Hicksville. Police said Muneppa charged a 68-year-old woman $20,000 for fortune telling services back on July 3. She returned for additional services Thursday at Anjana Ji on South Broadway. The company's website says it offers a variety of astrology services, including "evil spirit removal" and "love spell caster." Muneppa asked the woman to pay an extra $42,000, and she was driven to a bank on Broadway to withdraw the money, according to police. Questions were raised when she went to withdraw the money, and police were called. Officers arrested Muneppa in the parking lot without incident. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Hempstead. According to New York State law, it is illegal to charge for fortune telling services, unless solely for entertainment or amusement purposes. Fortune telling is considered a class B misdemeanor. "A person is guilty of fortune telling when, for a fee or compensation which he directly or indirectly solicits or receives, he claims or pretends to tell fortunes, or holds himself out as being able, by claimed or pretended use of occult powers, to answer questions or give advice on personal matters or to exorcise, influence or affect evil spirits or curses; except that this section does not apply to a person who engages in the aforedescribed conduct as part of a show or exhibition solely for the purpose of entertainment or amusement," the law reads. Nassau County Police urge anyone who may have been a victim of Muneppa to call 516-573-6200.
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
NYPD officer stole from Wells Fargo customers' accounts, Westchester DA alleges
An NYPD officer is accused of grand larceny and identity theft in an alleged bank fraud that investigators say ran close to $90,000. The Westchester County district attorney's office says the rookie officer from Manhattan formerly worked as a Wells Fargo bank operations coordinator in Westchester County, New York and fraudulently accessed customer accounts. The officer, 27-year-old Yeison Rodriguez Acosta, made a brief of court appearance Thursday morning in suburban Rye. He is currently suspended without pay, according to an NYPD spokesperson. Defense attorney John Pappalardo declined comment after court. The district attorney's office said Rodriguez Acosta worked for the Wells Fargo branch in Rye Brook from March 2024 to September 2024. He's accused of using information he learned to steal more than $87,000 from 14 customers' accounts between May 2024 and June 2025. The district attorney's office alleges Rodriguez Acosta continued his conduct while at the NYPD's Police Academy in October 2024 and after his graduation in May 2025 when he was assigned to the 48th precinct in the Bronx. "The defendant's brazen conduct, as alleged, does a disservice to his colleagues in law enforcement, who wear the badge honorably and took the same oath to protect and serve," Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said in a statement. "My administration will work to ensure that Mr. Rodriguez Acosta is held accountable for his alleged crimes and that the victims in this case are made whole." The 30-count criminal complaint includes charges of grand larceny, identity theft and fraud. CBS News New York's Tony Aiello was in court for Thursday's hearing and will have more on this developing story.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged with stealing car from convenience store
TUPELO – A Tupelo man has been jailed in Lee County after being of stealing a car from an east Tupelo convenience store and driving two counties away before being caught. The victim said on June 27, their vehicle was parked outside of Papa V's on East Main Street. When the person walked out of the store, their car was gone. The vehicle was later recovered in Benton County, where a suspect was taken into custody on unrelated charges. Following an investigation, Thomas E. Clayton III, 41, of Lake Street, Tupelo, was charged on July 1 with one count of grand larceny — felony taking of a motor vehicle. During the initial appearance in Tupelo Municipal Court Judge Harry Sumner set Clayton's bond at $25,000. The case will be presented to the Lee County Grand Jury.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Caregiver convicted of forcing Pearl River man, 78, at knifepoint to sign checks
NEW CITY -- A Rockland County Court jury convicted a live-in home care worker of forcing a Pearl River senior citizen at knifepoint to sign five personal checks in her name, totaling $18,592. The jury, after a week-long trial, found Delores Anderson, 60, of the Bronx guilty on Thursday, May 8, of five felony counts of second-degree grand larceny, the Rockland District Attorney's Office said on Friday, May 9. Anderson is scheduled for sentencing by Judge Kevin Russo on Aug. 27. A single count of second-degree grand larceny carries a maximum prison term of 15 years. Sentencing is at the discretion of the judge. Anderson cared for a 78-year-old man living in a Pearl River senior assisted living complex from December 2022 through August 2023. She was a live-in home care worker. She forced the man to sign five checks by threatening him with a kitchen knife, "instilling fear in him, that if he did not comply and author these checks, she would cause him a physical injury," the District Attorney's Office said in a news release. On May 5, 2023, Anderson forced the man for the first time to sign two personal checks payable to her, the release states. The checks totaled $4,082 each. On July 25, 2023, Anderson held the same kitchen knife to the victim's stomach and demanded that he write three more checks. Two of the checks amounted to $3,603 each, and the third totaled $3,602. She later withdrew $18,972.00 from her account, the release said. Orangetown police investigated and arrested Anderson in March 2024. Senior assistant district attorneys Allyson White and Brittany Richardson prosecuted. District Attorney Thomas Walsh said Anderson preyed upon a vulnerable person. 'This defendant not only violated a position of trust in this theft but threatened this elderly victim with a knife in his own home," Walsh said. "Our senior citizens can be assured that the Rockland County District Attorney's Office is committed to protecting them from violence and abuse and will vigorously prosecute any offenders." Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@ Twitter: @lohudlegal Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Caregiver forced Pearl River NY man to sign checks at knifepoint
