Defendant Allegedly Laundered Stolen Funds Through Shell Companies and Real Estate

Strategic Insights -

A Leominster man, 31-year-old Jesse El-Ghoul, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly stealing $1,355,863 by depositing a forged tax refund check and laundering the money through shell companies and real estate. The indictment includes charges of theft of government funds, bank fraud, and four counts of money laundering. El-Ghoul owned and operated Affordable Motor Group in Leominster, Massachusetts, and owed back taxes for the business.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jesse El-Ghoul, 31, was indicted on one count of theft of government funds, one count of bank fraud, and four counts of money laundering.
  • The alleged scheme involved depositing a forged tax refund check for $1,344,863 into El-Ghoul's business bank account.
  • El-Ghoul allegedly bought cashier's checks worth $235,280, $223,591, $202,643, and $425,000 payable to shell companies and a law firm.
  • The charges carry penalties including up to 10 years in prison for theft of government funds, up to 30 years for bank fraud, and up to 20 years for money laundering.
  • The U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, Ted E. Docks, and other officials announced the indictment.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil is prosecuting the case, and El-Ghoul is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Statistics:

  • $1,355,863 - the amount allegedly stolen by depositing a forged tax refund check.
  • $1,344,863 - the value of the forged tax refund check.
  • $235,280, $223,591, $202,643, and $425,000 - the values of cashier's checks allegedly purchased by El-Ghoul.
  • 10 years - maximum prison sentence for theft of government funds.
  • 30 years - maximum prison sentence for bank fraud.
  • 20 years - maximum prison sentence for money laundering.
  • $250,000 - maximum fine for theft of government funds.
  • $1 million - maximum fine for bank fraud.
  • $500,000 - maximum fine for money laundering, or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transactions.

Sources:

  • United States Attorney Leah B. Foley (Source: FBI)
  • Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division (Source: FBI)
  • Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office (Source: IRS)
  • Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, OIG (Source: US Treasury)
  • Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Boston Division (Source: USPS)
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit (Source: US Department of Justice)