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Nevada, Wisconsin men arrested, accused of telemarketing fraud that cheated people of millions of dollars

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Nevada, Wisconsin men arrested, accused of telemarketing fraud that cheated people of millions of dollars


NEW YORK (AP) — Two men were arrested in Nevada and Wisconsin on Thursday on charges that they carried out separate telemarketing scams that cheated people across the country of tens of millions of dollars.

Criminal charges in Manhattan federal court were lodged against Richard Zeitlin, 53, of Las Vegas, and Robert Piaro, 73, of Fredonia, Wisconsin.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said the men lied to donors by falsely letting them believe most of their donations were going to help veterans, aid law enforcement officers and fight breast cancer.

“Instead, Zeitlin and Piaro allegedly exploited these important causes and the good intentions of everyday citizens to steal millions of dollars in small donations,” Williams said in a news release.

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Lawyers for Zeitlin and Piaro did not immediately respond to emailed requests from The Associated Press seeking comment.

According to an indictment in New York, Zeitlin’s businesses pocketed 90 percent of the funds that were donated from 2017 to 2020 as a result of telemarketing campaigns.

The indictment said that Zeitlin “Call Centers” for decades had raised hundreds of millions of dollars for charities and political action committees by making hundreds of thousands of calls to donors and potential donors.

Although the majority of fundraising campaigns focused on charities, Zeitlin began encouraging prospective clients to operate PACs rather than charities in 2017 to dodge regulations that pertain to charities but not PACs, the indictment said.

Beginning at least in 2017, Zeitlin began using the centers to defraud individuals by falsely describing how their money would be spent and the nature of the organizations that would receive money, it said.

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Authorities said Zeitlin directed employees to mislead donors into thinking they were donating money to charities rather than PACs and that their money would go toward an organization rather than the telemarketers.

Over a five-year period from 2017 to December 2022, Piaro made false statements and misrepresentations to donors to raise over $28 million for PACs he owned including Americans for the Cure of Breast Cancer, the Association for Emergency Responders & Firefighters, the US Veterans Assistance Foundation and Standing by Veterans, an indictment said.

The indictment said Piaro directed a fundraising effort that misrepresented to donors that donations would be used to advance specific legislation, educate lawmakers and conduct and fund research.

Zeitlin was charged with two conspiracy counts, wire fraud and obstruction of justice charges, which carry a potential penalty of up to 100 years in prison.

Piaro was charged with wire and mail fraud, charges which carry a potential penalty of up to 60 years in prison.

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Nevada

Star Nevada Golfer Emree Cameron Reflects on Family Support Ahead of Big Tournaments

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Star Nevada Golfer Emree Cameron Reflects on Family Support Ahead of Big Tournaments


NEVADA, MO – When it comes to golf, there really isn’t much Emree Cameron can’t do. The next stop for the Nevada senior is the U.S. Girls Junior Golf Championship.

Picking up the sport at the age of six, Emree began competing at just seven years old. The division one Louisville commit said it’s her younger brother that drives her success.

“I was in the spotlight for awhile, and now he’s playing baseball and it’s his turn,” said Emree.

“I love it, and I want to show him that he can go be successful, and can play his sport long term.”

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With Nevada now home, golf takes the Cameron’s from coast to coast.

No matter where Emree goes however, her father, is with her every step of the way. The longtime golfer and former caddie, said he couldn’t be more proud of his daughter.

“It’s hard to put into words how proud I am,” said Eric Cameron.

“When I think about it, it almost brings me to tears, and it just speaks for itself.”

In 2024, Emree is a division one golf commit, and her school’s first ever state champion for girl’s golf. Despite the accolades, Emree would emphasize that her father and family would always be the most important over the course of her career.

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“My dad is my number one supporter, and so is everyone in my family,” Emree said.

“I don’t think I would be where I am, and have the mental state with golf right now if it wasn’t for my dad.”

In addition to competing in the U.S. Girls Golf Championship, Cameron will also play in the Junior PGA Championship in Bethesda, Maryland.

The Junior Golf Championships will take place at El Caballero Country Club in California on Monday, July 15th through Saturday, July 20th. The Junior PGA Championship will take place from July 30th through August 2nd.

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Lombardo makes 30 appointments, including Kieckhefer and Reynolds

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Lombardo makes 30 appointments, including Kieckhefer and Reynolds


CARSON CITY, Nev. (KOLO) -Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo last week announced 30 appointments to boards and commissions.

They include Ben Kieckhefer, Lombardo’s former chief of staff, to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and Terry Reynolds, recently retired as the Nevada Department of Business and Industry director, to the Nevada Ethics Commission.

“Both Terry and Ben bring decades of wisdom and experience to their respective appointments, and I’m grateful for their honorable service to their fellow Nevadans,” Lombardo said in a statement.

Prior to serving as Lombardo chief of staff, Kieckhefer served on the Nevada Gaming Commission, appointed in October 2021 by Gov. Steve Sisolak, and served as a member of the Nevada State Senate for three consecutive terms representing the Washoe and Carson portions of the Tahoe Basin.

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Before working for state government, Reynolds previously served as city manager for the cities of Prescott, Ariz., Elko and Sparks. Reynolds served in municipal government for over 20 years. Reynolds will fill the seat formerly held by Ethics Commissioner Thoran Towler.

The appointments:

Shane Kraus Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling

Scott Kichline Air Service Development Commission

Christopher Abraham Air Service Development Commission

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Eric Smith Board for Regulation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Justin Johnson Board of Agriculture

Jennifer Stepp Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors

Salome Balecha Board of Optometry

Adriana Fralick Cannabis Compliance Board

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Kent Lay Contractors’ Board

Shatawna Daniel Interagency Advisory Council on Homelessness to Housing

Gilbert Hernandez Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery Advisory Committee

Kevin McKinney Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission

Robert Straube Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission

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Valerie Clark Silver State Health Insurance Exchange

William Dolan Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery Advisory Committee

Elizabeth Smith Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery Advisory Committee

Megan Labadie State Land Use Planning Advisory Council

Ben Kieckhefer Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

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Sandra Schneeberger Women Veterans Advisory Committee

Clayton Eugean Comstock Historic District Commission

Tammy Hendrix Comstock Historic District Commission

Mercedes de la Garza Comstock Historic District Commission

David Bates Comstock Historic District Commission

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Nancy Cleaves Comstock Historic District Commission

Joseph Curtis Comstock Historic District Commission

Julie Workman Comstock Historic District Commission

Calvin Dillon Comstock Historic District Commission

Jessica Todtman Commission on Postsecondary Education

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Terry Reynolds Commission on Ethics



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Crash closes westbound I-80 in Sparks

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Crash closes westbound I-80 in Sparks


SPARKS, Nev. (KOLO) -A crash closed westbound Interstate 80 at Pyramid Way on Sunday morning. Traffic is getting past onusing the freeway shoulder.

A Nevada Department of Transportation traffic camera shows a tractor-trailer rig on its side on the freeway.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety reports the crash happened at 4:38 a.m. and that no one was seriously injured.

The Nevada State Police said there is no estimated time for all lanes to reopen.

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