Statement of Support for Senators Toomey and Manchin Background Check Bill

 April 17, 2013

I applaud Senators Toomey and Manchin for their bipartisan leadership.  Lets be perfectly clear, this amendment is about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.  This common-sense amendment will save lives, and will not infringe on any law abiding citizen’s right to possess firearms.  As the District Attorney of a city that sadly deals with illegal guns in the hands of criminals almost everyday, I urge the United States Senate to vote for this amendment today.

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams

Nine People Arrested for “Faking” Injuries on SEPTA Bus

 April 15, 2013:   The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has charged ten people with Insurance Fraud and related crimes after they filed allegedly fraudulent personal injury claims in connection with an April 5, 2010 incident involving the route “C” SEPTA bus.  Detectives from the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit (IFU) have arrested nine of the defendants and are actively seeking the tenth defendant in connection with the case. 

 SEPTA’s Inspector General’s Office referred this case to IFU detectives after SEPTA received ten allegedly fraudulent personal injury claims.  On April 5, 2010, the route “C” bus was traveling north on Broad Street when the bus’ exterior side view mirror made contact with an abandoned newsstand. Digital video surveillance on the bus shows that no passengers on the bus were disturbed or made sudden movements as a result of this contact. The damage to the bus consisted of a broken passenger side mirror and a crack in the fifth window on the passenger side of the bus.  Philadelphia police did not respond to the accident and no one that was on the bus at the time of the occurrence reported injuries to the operator. 

 Despite the initial absence of reports of any injuries, SEPTA subsequently received notices of personal injury claims from attorneys from seven different area law firms who were representing the ten defendants.  All of the claims included demands of money from SEPTA for medical bills and pain and suffering.  The medical bills included emergency room visits and trips to different chiropractic clinics.  The settlement requests sought compensation ranging from $5,000 to $225,000.

 As a result of reviewing the accident report, a witness list filled out by the bus operator at the time of the incident and the surveillance video from the bus, IFU detectives determined that only six of the ten individuals filing personal injury claims were actually on the bus at the time of the incident.  Furthermore, the surveillance video contradicts specific details of the claims that were filed by the defendants who were on the bus at the time of the incident. 

 ADA Michael Kershaw and Detective Donald Murtha of the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit are specially assigned to this case.

 Defendants Arrested for “C” Bus Incident

 22-year-old Bilah Taylor of the 5300 block of Glenmore Ave. Taylor was arrested on 2-20-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud, Attempt Theft by Deception, and Conspiracy.  Taylor was not on the bus at the time of the incident, but is the boyfriend of Shera Bernard.

 25-year-old Shera Bernard of the 5300 block of Glenmore Ave.  Bernard was arrested on 2-21-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud, Attempt Theft by Deception, Perjury, and Conspiracy.  Bernard was on the bus at the time of the incident, and can be seen in the video holding a small child.

 29-year-old David Childs of the 400 block of Domino Lane.  Childs was arrested on 3-26-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception, Attempt Theft by Deception, and Conspiracy.  Childs was not on the bus at the time of the incident, but was roommate of Saiyd Yancey.

 52-year-old Debra Smith of the 3200 block of N. Broad St. Smith was arrested on 4-09-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception, Attempted Theft by Deception, Perjury, and Conspiracy. Smith was on the bus at the time of the incident, and is seen in the surveillance video standing in the front of the bus.

 45-year-old Tonya Wells of the 4900 block of Walton Ave. Wells was arrested on 4-10-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception, Attempted Theft by Deception, Perjury, and Conspiracy. Wells was on the bus at the time of the incident, and is seen in the surveillance video seated in rear of bus.

 65-year-old Jackie Greene of the 2000 block of Mather Way, Elkins Park, PA.  Greene was arrested on 4-10-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception, Attempted Theft by Deception, Perjury, and Conspiracy. Greene was on the bus at the time of the incident, and is seen in the surveillance video seated in rear of bus.

 41-year-old Manuel Patton of the 2000 block of N. 32^nd St.  Patton was arrested on 4-10-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud and Attempt Theft by Deception.  Patton was on the bus at the time of the incident, and is seen in the surveillance video seated on rear bench seat of bus.

 32-year-old Thelma Webb of 1400 block of N. Newkirk St.  Webb was arrested on 4-11-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception, and Attempted Theft by Deception. Webb was not on the bus at the time of the incident, but her sister lived near Yancey and Childs.

 29-year-old Saiyd Yancey of 2000 block of W. Susquehanna Ave.  Yancey was arrested on 4-11-2013 and is charged with Insurance Fraud, Attempt Theft by Deception, and Conspiracy. Yancey was on the bus at the time of the incident, and is seen in the surveillance video seated in rear with child on his lap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unlicensed Physician Charged with Fraud

April 10, 2013:  The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office today charged 63-year-old Patrick Usanga of Folcroft, PA with Insurance Fraud, Attempted Theft by Deception, Theft by Deception and Tampering with Public Records or Information for operating a medical practice without a license.

 Detectives from the District Attorney’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit , along with the assistance of agents from the Social Security Administration and the United states Department of Labor began to investigate Usanga in 2012 after receiving a referral from an Independence Blue Cross investigator.  Alleged doctor and defendant Patrick Usanga operated Northeast Behavioral Medicine located on the 6800 block of Castor Avenue.  Usanga incorporated the business as a medical clinic providing psychiatric and chemical treatment counseling.  No employee at the facility, including Patrick Usanga, was licensed to provide such treatment.

 The investigation found that Usanga billed both Independence Blue Cross and Aetna Insurance for mental health procedures that he was not licensed to perform. Further allegations include that Usanga billed Independence Blue Cross for over fifteen thousand dollars and Aetna Insurance for over $5,000 while operating this facility.

 Detectives interviewed Independence Blue Cross insured who were former patients of Northeast Behavioral Medicine. The interviews revealed several discrepancies between patient accounts and forms submitted by Usanaga to the insurance company. The patients identified Patrick Usanga as their doctor during their time of treatment; however, claim forms submitted to the insurance company list other employees of the center as medical providers at the patients’ time of treatment. Detectives checked the Pennsylvania Department of State database and discovered that the employees listed as medical providers held no professional licenses. Detectives also reviewed claim forms submitted to Aetna Insurance Company. These forms routinely list three Northeast Behavioral Medicine employees as medical providers, none of whom are registered as holding professional licenses.

 In addition to committing insurance fraud by billing insurance companies for services rendered by an unlicensed practitioner, Usanga was also charged with Theft by Deception for allegedly receiving checks from the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation System. Usanga first filed for unemployment in March of 2009. Over the next two years, Usanga received over $55,000 in unemployment compensation. Records show that Usanga had treated patients, submitted medical forms to insurers and received payment during the period in which he was claiming to be unemployed. Usanga is also accused of Tampering with Public Records for submitting multiple extended benefit claims forms to the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation system alleging that he was looking for work at Northeast Behavioral Medicine, the same facility which he operated himself.  

In 2012, the Department of Public Welfare revoked Northeast Medical Center’s license after learning that the center did not employ any licensed doctors and/or counselors.

ADA Linda Montag and Detective Karl Supperer of the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit are specially assigned to this case.  Usanga was arrested this morning by DAO Insurance Fraud Detectives with the help of detectives from the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit.  Usanga is currently being processed by the Philadelphia Police.

Complete list of Charges:

Insurance Fraud – F3 (27 counts)

Attempted Theft by Deception – F3 (27 counts)

Theft by Deception – F3 (11 counts)

Tampering with Public Records or Information – F3 (10 counts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dwayne Stewart Arrested for “Stealing Houses” in Philadelphia

April 5, 2013:  The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has charged 41-year-old Dwayne Stewart of West Philadelphia with “stealing” five properties in the City and County of Philadelphia, theft from at least 12 additional victims in fraudulent real estate scams and passing bad checks to victims including the City of Philadelphia Recorder of Deeds Office.

The long term investigation lead by the Southwest Detective Division of the Philadelphia Police Department revealed that houses at 2545 N. Newkirk Street, 916 W. Huntingdon Street, 2613 W. Harold Street, 3025 N. Warnock Street and 2148 Reese Street were all stolen by Stewart from an elderly victim through the creation and recording of fraudulent deeds.  Stewart then, in several instances, sold or tried to sell these stolen homes to unsuspecting buyers.  In addition, using both Newkirk St., Huntingdon St. and other properties in Southwest Philadelphia Steward defrauded apartment seekers and apartment owners by unlawfully renting out apartments, accepting deposits and payments for apartments with which he had no relationship. In several cases, without the knowledge of the true owner or the rental agency, Stewart left the unsuspecting tenants stranded with no home.

Stewart has been charged with :

 Forgery (F-3)- 7 counts

Theft-Unlawful Taking or Disposition (F-3)- 13 counts

Theft-Unlawful Taking or Disposition (M-1)- 3 counts

Att. Theft-Unlawful Taking or Disposition (F-3)- 1 count

Theft by Deception (F-3)- 13 counts

Theft by Deception (M-1)- 3 counts

Att. Theft by Deception (F-3)- 1 count

Receiving Stolen Property (F-3)-7 counts

Receiving Stolen Property (M-1)- 3 counts

Deceptive Practices (F-3)- 1 count

Tampering w/Public Records/Information (F-3)- 8 counts

Tampering w/Records or Identification (M-1)- 8 counts

Defiant Trespass (F-3)- 1 count

Securing Execution of Docs (M-2)- 10 counts

Bad Checks (M-1)- 1 count

Bad Checks (M-2)- 4 counts

 

Southwest Detectives arrested Stewart late on Thursday afternoon,  ADA Matthew Perks of the District Attorney’s Private Criminal Complaints Unit is specially assigned to this case.

Insurance Fraud Arrest

 The District Attorney’s Office has charged 49-year-old Luis Colon with Arson, Criminal Conspiracy, Attempted Theft by Deception, Insurance Fraud, REAP, and False Reports for his involvement in a 2012 fraudulent insurance claim.

Detectives from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit (IFU) began to investigate Colon after arresting defendant Jaime Willis for attempting to defraud Safe Auto Insurance of over four thousand dollars by filing an allegedly fraudulent vehicle theft claim. On the night of April 10, 2012, police officers and firefighters responded to a report that a car was on fire.  When they arrived at the 100 block of West Ashdale Street they found a 2001 Saab fully ablaze. Officers determined by the VIN number that the vehicle belonged to Jaime Willis. The following morning, Willis called Philadelphia Police and reported that she had woken up and discovered that her 2001 Saab was missing. After calling police, Willis also notified Safe Auto and informed them that her vehicle had been stolen and recovered with fire damage.

As investigators looked into the incident, they examined surveillance footage from commercial buildings across from West Ashdale Street. The footage showed an unidentified male park Willis’ Saab across the street at about 10:30 at night, remove items from the trunk of the Saab and then leave the scene.  About an hour later, the male is seen throwing something into the Saab and then fleeing. The car ignites and ten minutes later police and firefighters arrive on the scene.

Following Willis’ arrest, IFU detectives were able to identify Willis’ uncle, Luis Colon, as the person who allegedly helped her dispose of her Saab. Evidence gathered by the detectives established that Willis allegedly gave Colon the keys to her car, which he used to move it to West Ashdale Street.  Once the car was at that location, Colon and another male allegedly set the car on fire.  Colon allegedly returned the keys to Willis the next day after burning the car.

IFU detectives obtained Willis’ cell phone records that showed four phone calls took place between Colon and Willis on April 10 and April 11. No other phone calls took place between the two between April 1 and April 15, which suggested that they did not maintain routine contact.  In addition, the investigation revealed that Willis allegedly agreed to pay Colon two to three hundred dollars, after she received her settlement, for his help in getting rid of her vehicle.

 

IFU detectives arrested Colon on March 21, 2013 and he is scheduled to appear in Philadelphia Municipal Court on March 26, 2013 for a status listing in connection with the charges.   ADA Michael Kershaw and Detective Donald Murtha of the IFU are specially assigned to this case.

 

 

 

Insurance Fraud Arrest

March 19, 2013:  The District Attorney’s Office has charged 67-year-old Wallace King with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception, and Criminal Conspiracy for a 2012 fraudulent insurance claim.

In August of 2012, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit detectives arrested Corsandra Sims for allegedly filing a false vehicle theft report with both the Philadelphia Police and Nationwide Insurance. On May 13, 2012, Sims reported to the police and to Nationwide Insurance Company that her 2001 Cadillac Deville had been stolen after she parked it by a nearby train station on May 13. Officers later discovered that the Cadillac had been recycled at Clearfield Recycling in Philadelphia on May 5.

In an interview with detectives, Sims admitted that after discovering her Cadillac would need over two thousand dollars worth of repairs, she contacted a local auto shop employee who allegedly offered to help have her car stolen in exchange for two hundred and fifty dollars from the insurance settlement. Sims identified this auto shop employee as Wallace King. King allegedly told Sims that after he got rid of the car, he would return the keys to her and then she was to report the car stolen. King allegedly took the 2001 Cadillac Deville to Clearfield Recycling, claimed it was his son’s car and had it crushed. Although Nationwide never paid out on this claim, King received approximately five hundred dollars from Clearfield Recycling for parts of the car. The weigh slip from Clearfield Recycling bears the signature of Wallace King and is dated seven days prior to the theft report. 

King was arrested on March 5, 2013, and he is scheduled to appear in Philadelphia Municipal Court for a status hearing on April 9, 2013.  ADA John Doyle and Detective Gilbert Brook of the DAO’s Insurance Fraud Unit are specially assigned to this case.

Philadelphia Children’s Alliance Video

 March, 19, 2013: District Attorney Seth Williams, along with other law enforcement and community leaders, takes part in video for the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance to highlight the agency’s essential services.  The video details how PCA uses a comprehensive approach that helps prevent children of sexual abuse from being re-traumatized again during criminal prosecution.

In the video, PCA goes through the entire process showing how their team meets before and after forensic interviews to determine how to best help the child and their family.  They also describing the role they play as forensic interviewers and victim advocates.

http://youtu.be/HdTv1VPWdeY

Eric Maloy Sentenced for Raping his Godson

March 15, 2013: 45-year-old Eric Maloy was sentenced to 36 to 72 years in prison today by the Honorable Donna Woelpper for the 2011 rape of Maloy’s godson.  On December 3, 2012, Maloy was convicted by a jury of his peers of orally and anally raping his godson, who was between the ages of five and six years old at the time.  Maloy had previously been arrested for numerous child rapes and a murder, yet managed to avoid conviction on all of those charges until now.  The defendant would manipulate the system by bribing witnesses and sending his victims to distant locations in the days preceding trial dates.  Three of his prior victims were able to be located – and two of them testified at the trial.  This case was successfully prosecuted by ADAs Branwen McNabb & ADA Ashley Lynam of the Family Violence & Sexual Assault Unit.

 

 

District Attorney Seth Williams Reacts to Mayor Nutter’s Budget

March 14, 2013: “The important job of keeping Philadelphia safe requires more than just mere words,” said District Attorney Seth Williams after today’s budget announcement.  “ It requires investments in our law enforcement, including the police and District Attorneys Office, and I am surprised that in a time when we are working together to find real ways of reducing gun violence the mayor would choose to effectively cut the budget of the DA’s office.  I know our city council prioritizes public safety and I look forward to working with them as they enact the budget for the 2014 fiscal year.”   

The Mayor’s proposed budget for the District Attorney’s Office amounts to a net decrease for law enforcement, at a time when Philadelphians continue to suffer from violent crime.  While the mayor appears to have provided a very small increase in the office budget, that amount is more than offset by new costs imposed by the city over the last year.  The net effect is to put the District Attorney’s office a half million dollars in the hole as compared to the previous fiscal year.

 

 

 

56-Year-Old Man charged with having Sex with 17-year-old Student

March 12, 2013:  The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office today charged 56-year-old Mark Preston Williams with Institutional Sexual Assault of a Student, Unlawful Contact with a Minor, Corruption of a Minor, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Interference with the Custody of a Child for having sex with a 17-year-old student.  Williams is the former employee in the Dean of Students office at Northeast High School.  Williams turned himself in to police this morning and has not been arraigned yet.  This case is still under investigation and anyone with information on Mark Preston Williams is urged to call Special Victim’s Unit detectives at 215-685-3251.

The crime of Institutional Sexual Assault of a Student, a felony in the third degree, was signed into law in December of 2011.  The crime makes it illegal for a teacher to have sex with a secondary school student with whom he has direct contact regardless of the victim’s age.  This legislation was a priority of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, of which District Attorney Seth Williams is the legislative chair.