Latest news with #MartinSchulteis
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
California man accused of targeting Wisconsin woman in tech support scam
RICHFIELD, Wis. (WFRV) – A 24-year-old man from California has been taken into custody following an attempted fraud scheme targeting an elderly woman in Wisconsin, authorities say. According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the scam began when the victim received a suspicious email on Tuesday that appeared to be from a tech support service. The message claimed she would be charged a subscription fee, prompting her to click a link to cancel. Neenah gas stations display fraud warnings amid surge in Bitcoin ATM scams This link allowed the suspect to gain access to her bank account. He allegedly manipulated the account to make it appear as though he had refunded a large sum of money by accident. The victim was then contacted by someone claiming she could return the funds either by sending Bitcoin or handing over cash to a courier. Becoming suspicious, the victim contacted authorities. Working with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the woman coordinated a pickup on April 9. When the suspect arrived at her residence to collect $26,500 in cash, he was met by law enforcement and arrested. Officials say the suspect is an Indian national currently living in California while seeking asylum in the U.S. He reportedly told investigators he flew to Chicago the night before and was instructed to pick up the money and possibly accompany the woman to her bank for additional funds. Authorities believe the suspect has participated in similar schemes outside Wisconsin. He claimed his travel and lodging expenses were covered, and that he has yet to be paid for his role. He also said his orders came from relatives in India. Overnight search of 'massive' Appleton warehouse ends in arrest of burglary suspect Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis expressed concern over the suspect's asylum status, stating, 'It's deeply troubling when someone seeking asylum in our country is then accused of exploiting the very compassion and support offered to them—especially at the expense of our vulnerable elderly population.' Federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are now involved in the case. No further details have been released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Washington County deputy resigns after accusation of stealing food from gas station
A Washington County sheriff's deputy has resigned after being accused of repeatedly stealing food items from a Richfield gas station, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. The deputy, who had been on staff for nearly 10 years, was immediately placed on administrative leave Feb. 27 after the sheriff's office was notified, according to the news release. "The actions alleged are wholly unacceptable, a direct violation of the core values that this agency stands for," Sheriff Martin Schulteis said. A preliminary interview showed concerns about "possible criminal intent," so the Washington County Sheriff's Office requested the assistance of the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office to conduct a "thorough, transparent, and impartial criminal investigation," the release said. Because of a conflict of interest, the Washington County District Attorney's Office has requested appointing of a special prosecutor to review the criminal investigation. The deputy's resignation does not impact any potential criminal proceedings. "As public servants, we are entrusted with upholding the law and protecting the communities we serve," Schulteis said. "Although the monetary loss to the business may not be significant, these alleged actions represent a profound betrayal of trust. Such alleged behavior undermines public confidence in our agency and will not be tolerated." The Washington County Sheriff's Office told a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter they cannot release any other information. A message left with the Washington County District Attorney's Office was not immediately returned. Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy. More: This couple is one of the thousands who've signed Washington County's 'I Do Wall' More: A clothing store, tap room and dessert food truck are now open in Milwaukee's north suburbs This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Washington County deputy accused of retail theft in Richfield
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
Washington County Sheriff's Office helps stop Indiana school shooting
The Brief What could have been a school shooting in Indiana was stopped, in part, by the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin. It started with a tip that led authorities to a 19-year-old woman in the Town of Addison. It was discovered that the woman was not the threat, but was in online chat rooms with the suspected shooter in Indiana, who was eventually arrested. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Wis. - The Washington County Sheriff's Office helped stop a school shooting in Indiana. Timeline They received a tip, on Monday, about a shooting planned for today, Friday, Feb. 14. That initial tip alerted authorities about a Valentine's Day school shooting. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Authorities first believed the suspect was in Washington County, but learned just in time they were more than 300 miles away. "It's amazing, the connections, how little Washington County fit into the equation," said Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis. "The news story would be much, much different if it were not for the tipster." On Monday, Feb. 10, the sheriff's office got a tip about a school shooting planned for Valentine's Day from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. "We thought initially that was the suspect that we were seeking and that it was a local school in Washington County," Schulties added. It led investigators to the small Town of Addison. Deputies secured a search warrant and setup surveillance on the home of a 19-year-old. On Tuesday morning--they made contact with the woman. "That female was very cooperative. She certainly was connected to the chat rooms, but she was not the target that we were looking for," said Schulties. The sheriff says she was in chat rooms on the Discord app with the would-be shooter who was more than 300 miles away in Mooresville, Indiana. "Oh, it's very disturbing. I mean, this is a small town and a lot of us have. I mean, I have family who goes there," said Kerry Buckner, Mooresville, Indiana Police Chief. 18-year-old Trinity Schockley was arrested. What we know Court documents say she had been planning the shooting for more than a year and had access to an AR-15 and a bulletproof vest. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Authorities are thankful for a tip that prevented a tragedy. "Sometimes there's a little bit of luck involved with law enforcement, and I'll take luck and dedication every time," said Schulties. Investigators say they found a collage with pictures of school shooters on Shockley's bedroom wall. They say she had an infatuation with the Parkland shooter who killed 17 people on Valentine's Day in 2018. The Source FOX6 spoke with Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis. Additional reporting on the school shooting threat was provided by FOX59 in Indianapolis.
