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Banks (Finance)

Leominster Man Indicted for Alleged Scheme to Steal $1.355 Million Tax Refund

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Jesse El-Ghoul, a 31-year-old Leominster man, 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 transactions. El-Ghoul owned and operated Affordable Motor Group in Leominster and owed back taxes on the business. He allegedly deposited the forged check into his business bank account on March 29, 2024, and then bought cashier's checks for various amounts payable to shell companies and a law firm.

Key Takeaways:

  • The defendant, Jesse El-Ghoul, allegedly stole $1,355,863 by depositing a forged tax refund check into his business bank account.
  • El-Ghoul then laundered the money through cashier's checks payable to shell companies and a law firm in connection with a real estate transaction.
  • The charges against El-Ghoul include one count of theft of government funds, one count of bank fraud, and four counts of money laundering.
  • El-Ghoul owned and operated Affordable Motor Group in Leominster, Mass., and owed back taxes on the business.
  • The charges provide for significant prison time and fines, including up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and up to 20 years in prison for each count of money laundering.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil is prosecuting the case, which is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Statistics:

  • $1,355,863: The amount allegedly stolen by El-Ghoul through the forged tax refund check and subsequent laundering.
  • 31 years: The age of the alleged perpetrator, Jesse El-Ghoul.
  • March 29, 2024: The date El-Ghoul allegedly deposited the forged tax refund check into his business bank account.
  • 4: The number of counts of money laundering against El-Ghoul.

Sources:

  • United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA)
  • U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
  • United States Attorney Leah B. Foley

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