Close X
Sunday, November 17, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian Immigrant Sentenced To 9 Years In Prison For $25 Million-Dollar Fraud Scheme In US

Darpan News Desk, 03 Mar, 2017 11:22 AM
  • Indian Immigrant Sentenced To 9 Years In Prison For $25 Million-Dollar Fraud Scheme In US
The FBI caught hint of the scam after the group used images of fake passports, including one that featured Canadian actress Laura Vandervoort's image from a television show.
 
An Indian-American man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for a multi-million dollar fraud scheme.
 
Amit Chaudhry, 44, from Ashburn, Virginia, pleaded guilty on September 21 last year to identity theft, money laundering and visa fraud.
 
"I never really dreamt of being a felon. This is going to haunt me for the rest of my life," Chaudhry said in Alexandria federal court on Thursday before being sentenced, the Washington Post reported.
 
According to the report, Chaudhry, who emigrated from India in 1992, helped his relatives overseas to operate a multimillion-dollar scam that involved money laundering from stolen credit cards and identities through shell bank accounts.
 
He was also part of a related scheme, advertising cheap travel packages. Clients' money would be stolen and their hotel and airfare would be paid for with stolen credit cards.
 
They also made more than $25 million off fake credit cards with the help of a co-conspirator working at American Express in India, the Washington Post report said. 
 
 
The group also used images of fake passports.
 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uncovered the scheme in part when an agent recognised a photo in one passport as actress Laura Vandervoot. The photo was taken from a scene of her television show "V" involving visas.
 
"What we're dealing with here is not a casual wrong turn," said Jeffrey Abish, the chief information officer for the defrauded company ActioNet. 
 
Chaudhry sent inflated and imagined IT invoices to the company, netting $4.1 million that he has now pledged to repay, according to the report.
 
Defence attorney Danny Onorato told The Post that "this was all done out of family loyalty".
 
Onorato added that Chaudhry has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, which might help explain his behaviour.
 
However, Assistant US Attorney Katherine Wong protested Onorato's argument, saying: "Asperger's doesn't cause anyone to steal or open credit card accounts in someone else's name."
 
Chaudhry is cooperating with authorities, who are still finding more victims and tracking down co-conspirators in the US and abroad. 

MORE International ARTICLES

Pakistan approaches ICJ over Indus Waters Treaty

Pakistan approaches ICJ over Indus Waters Treaty
Pakistan on Tuesday approached the International Court of Justice over implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, with senior Pakistani officials taking up the matter with the World Bank.

Pakistan approaches ICJ over Indus Waters Treaty

Uri Attack Was 'Self-generated' By India: Pakistan Defence Minister

Uri Attack Was 'Self-generated' By India: Pakistan Defence Minister
Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had stated that Indian’s assertion that Islamabad was behind the Uri attack, was New Delhi’s "long-time habit".

Uri Attack Was 'Self-generated' By India: Pakistan Defence Minister

Hillary Clinton Executes Debate Plan: Annoy Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton Executes Debate Plan: Annoy Donald Trump
Donald Trump made a gracious entrance for the first one-on-one presidential debate of his life, exchanging pleasantries with his opponent Monday and cordially referring to her as, "Secretary Clinton."

Hillary Clinton Executes Debate Plan: Annoy Donald Trump

Indian-Origin Lawyer Nathan Desai Shoots 9 In US, Killed By Police

Indian-Origin Lawyer Nathan Desai Shoots 9 In US, Killed By Police
Nathan Desai was armed with a handgun and submachine gun during the 20-minute shooting spree when he fired at passing cars and the police

Indian-Origin Lawyer Nathan Desai Shoots 9 In US, Killed By Police

Hindu Community Has Made 'Fantastic' Contributions To Us, World: Donald Trump

Hindu Community Has Made 'Fantastic' Contributions To Us, World: Donald Trump
He issued a short 24-second video message inviting Indian-Americans to attend the 'incredible' event on October 15.

Hindu Community Has Made 'Fantastic' Contributions To Us, World: Donald Trump

Indian-American Doctor Charged With $9.5 Million Fraud

Indian-American Doctor Charged With $9.5 Million Fraud
Shelinder Aggarwal simultaneously filed guilty plea to the charges. In the plea, he agreed to forfeit his former clinic on Turner Street Southwest in Huntsville, along with USD 6.7 million, the Justice Department said yesterday.

Indian-American Doctor Charged With $9.5 Million Fraud