Latest Breaking News

Omaha Steve

(99,503 posts) Mon Mar 21, 2016, 08:50 PM Mar 2016

Creative Creations owner pleads not guilty to 25 charges in federal court

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Janice Podsada

Patricia Urbanovsky, owner of Creative Creations, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Omaha on Monday to 25 federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering.

Urbanovsky, 30, was indicted last month on nine counts of money laundering and 16 counts of wire fraud in connection with the sale of millions of dollars worth in worthless travel vouchers through her Omaha event planning company.

She remains free while she awaits a trial; no bail was set. She had to surrender her passport and is required to remain in Nebraska.

The judge told Urbanovsky that each of the 16 wire fraud charges carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years; each money laundering charge carries a maximum sentence of five years.

FULL story at link.

REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD
Patricia Urbanovsky, owner of Creative Creations, arrives with attorney Steve Lefler, right, for her first appearance in federal court to face 25 federal charges — 16 counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering — at U.S. District Court in Omaha, Neb., Monday, March 21, 2016.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/money/creative-creations-owner-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges-in-federal/article_8c1f8e6e-ef8f-11e5-a1d5-13dbd30e09a2.html

18 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Creative Creations owner pleads not guilty to 25 charges in federal court (Original Post) Omaha Steve Mar 2016 OP

worthless travel vouchers? No. They were "creative creations"! jberryhill Mar 2016 #1

Creative Way to get Cash rpannier Mar 2016 #2

Damn! That's my brother. edgineered Mar 2016 #5

I knew I'd seen that hat before rocktivity Mar 2016 #10

Briefcases look interesetingly similar as well rpannier Mar 2016 #11

Family discount on the suits-"Lefler’s son, attorney Matthew Burns, is assisting with the case" NBachers Mar 2016 #14

Her attorney looks like Al Bundy! N/M Grins Mar 2016 #17

Her lawyer basically said she didn't know any better. merrily Mar 2016 #3

She didn't know any better? rocktivity Mar 2016 #7

Yes, I know. I guess ignorance of the law is all her lawyer could come up with. merrily Mar 2016 #8

The lawyer has recommended a sentence though she has pleaded not guilty rocktivity Mar 2016 #9

WTF SusanLarson Mar 2016 #4

Urbanovsky, 30, declared herself “not guilty” in federal court in Omaha... rocktivity Mar 2016 #6

She looks like a rags-to-rags "success". /nt SDjack Mar 2016 #12

I want that hat. Hoppy Mar 2016 #13

The guy looks like he just escaped from a production of WAITING FOR GODOT n/t. Ken Burch Mar 2016 #15

or a Rene Magritte painting rocktivity Mar 2016 #18

if the deal sounds too good to be true..... dembotoz Mar 2016 #16

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)

1. worthless travel vouchers? No. They were "creative creations"!

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 08:52 PM

Mar 2016

rpannier

(24,328 posts)

2. Creative Way to get Cash

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 08:53 PM

Mar 2016

Her attorney looks as crooked as she does
Who's the guy on the left just in front of her?

edgineered

(2,101 posts)

5. Damn! That's my brother.

Reply to rpannier (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 09:00 PM

Mar 2016

I was sure Joey would call when they released him again!

rocktivity

(44,572 posts)

10. I knew I'd seen that hat before

Reply to rpannier (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 10:33 PM

Mar 2016

Last edited Thu Mar 24, 2016, 10:37 AM - Edit history (2)

rocktivity

rpannier

(24,328 posts)

11. Briefcases look interesetingly similar as well

Reply to rocktivity (Reply #10)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 10:48 PM

Mar 2016

You're on to something

NBachers

(17,082 posts)

14. Family discount on the suits-"Lefler’s son, attorney Matthew Burns, is assisting with the case"

Reply to rpannier (Reply #11)

Tue Mar 22, 2016, 03:23 AM

Mar 2016

I don't think I'd buy a travel voucher from any of those people.

I bet there's nothing left over when it's time for the bilked customers to get paid.

Grins

(7,199 posts)

17. Her attorney looks like Al Bundy! N/M

Reply to rpannier (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 22, 2016, 10:55 AM

Mar 2016

merrily

(45,251 posts)

3. Her lawyer basically said she didn't know any better.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 08:56 PM

Mar 2016

Anyone ever hear "Ignorance of the law is no excuse?"

rocktivity

(44,572 posts)

7. She didn't know any better?

Reply to merrily (Reply #3)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 10:20 PM

Mar 2016

...Creative Creations sold vouchers for travel on Southwest Airlines that the company said were valid for travel anywhere in the United States. Southwest was not involved in voucher sales...Urbanovsky offered her employees a commission for each voucher sold. The firm then would create an invoice documenting the purchase. The invoice served as the client’s “voucher.”

Purchasers were told that they had to book their flights through Creative Creations’ online portal.

Some customers were able to successfully book travel through late March 2015, but other would-be travelers discovered that their vouchers were worthless and came away empty-handed.

At one point, Urbanovsky posed as an airline employee to further her scheme...

Sounds like she knew plenty!

rocktivity

merrily

(45,251 posts)

8. Yes, I know. I guess ignorance of the law is all her lawyer could come up with.

Reply to rocktivity (Reply #7)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 10:23 PM

Mar 2016

rocktivity

(44,572 posts)

9. The lawyer has recommended a sentence though she has pleaded not guilty

Reply to merrily (Reply #8)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 10:29 PM

Mar 2016

Is HE ignorant of the law himself -- or mounting a stealth ineffective counsel defense?

rocktivity

SusanLarson

(284 posts)

4. WTF

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 08:57 PM

Mar 2016

So they let a person facing 365 Years if the sentence is served consecutively out on bail, but please please please don't flee. Must be rich...

rocktivity

(44,572 posts)

6. Urbanovsky, 30, declared herself “not guilty” in federal court in Omaha...

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 09:44 PM

Mar 2016

(Her) attorney...also declared Urbanovsky innocent...(He) repeatedly has described his client’s actions as unintentional “mistakes” made because she wasn’t knowledgeable about sound businesses practices...Still, he said, even if Urbanovsky is convicted, he hoped she would receive a sentence of no more than seven to 10 years in prison...

Seriously? I don't know what I find more appalling -- that her attorney might have said that IN court, or that he might have said it OUTSIDE of court! I'm afraid Ms. Urbanovsky made another "unintentional mistake" when she hired him!