Fake Youth Basketball Operator Scams Saratoga County Parents Out Of $1K, Cops Say
A New York man created a fake youth basketball team and scammed parents out of more than $1,000, authorities said Monday, Aug. 10.
Norbert A. Sygdziak, 44, of Milton, collected money from several parents for their children to join a basketball team, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said.
With no basketball games occurring, the parents filed a series of complaints, leading to Sygdziak’s arrest on Tuesday, July 21, authorities said. He was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, first- and second-degree scheme to defraud, and five counts of petit larceny.
Sygdziak carried out his schem…
Wallingford School PTO Treasurer Stole $22K From Elementary School Group, Police Say
A former Connecticut elementary school PTO treasurer is accused of stealing about $22,000 from the organization that supports local students and teachers.
Erica L. Vitale, 39, of Wallingford, was arrested Friday, July 17, according to police. She served as treasurer for the Highland Elementary School PTO and had full access to the group's funds.
The PTO claims $22,000 is missing from their accounts, and Vitale cannot account for it, police explained.
Vitale is charged with first-degree larceny and fraudulent use of an automated teller machine, Wallingford police said. She …
PA Corrections Officer Who Had Sex With Inmates, Ran ID Fraud Scheme Sentenced: AG
A former Pennsylvania corrections officer who admitted to having sexual relationships with multiple inmates while running an identity theft scheme from inside a state prison has been sentenced, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Friday, July 10.
Kristina Miller, 36, of Kane, was sentenced to 22 to 44 months in state prison after previously pleading guilty to institutional sexual assault, unlawful use of a computer, and conspiracy to commit identity theft, the Attorney General's Office said.
As part of her sentence, Miller was ordered to register as a sex offender under SORNA for 15 y…
Cash For Supplies That Never Arrived: Former DC School Official Admits Bribery
She was supposed to be buying supplies for students.
Instead, federal prosecutors say a longtime DC school administrator was taking cash under the table while approving payments for orders that never showed up.
District resident Tracy Hatton, 60, admitted to her role in the scheme after pleading guilty to bribery, according to the US Attorney's Office for DC.
The guilty plea, entered in November 2025, was unsealed Thursday, July 9.
Hatton worked as the administrative officer at McKinley Technology High School, where she controlled the school's supply budget, selected vendors, approv…
Amityville Nurse Who Pocketed $1.25M In Fake Vaccine Scheme Hit With Record Fine
A Long Island nurse who admitted to faking more than 150 child vaccines was fined $544,000 by the state, officials announced Thursday, July 9.
Julie DeVuono’s fine is the largest in the New York Department of Health’s 125-year history, the agency said.
DeVuono, 53, pleaded guilty to criminal charges in June 2024, in which she agreed to complete community service, forfeit $1.2 million in criminal proceeds, and give up her professional licenses.
Between 2019 and 2022, DeVuono lied about giving 162 children various vaccines, including for chickenpox, measles, hepatitis, tetanus, and COVID-19,…
