Date: 12-30-2016

Case Style:

Case Number: 4:16-cr-00316-RLW

Judge: Ronnie L. White

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Steven A. Muchnick

Defendant's Attorney:

Ray Bolourtchi

Description: St. Louis, MO - Local Man Pleads Guilty to Stolen Identity Tax Refund and Money Laundering Scheme

Precious Agobe, St. Louis County, MO, pled guilty to charges involving his participation in a stolen identity tax fraud and money laundering scheme.

According to court documents, on three occasions in February 2015, Agobe made withdrawals from a Bank of America account which contained the proceeds of fraudulently obtained federal income tax refunds. The total amount of these withdrawals was $8,800. As part of the plea agreement in this case, the parties agreed that the loss from these fraudulently obtained income tax returns was between $250,000 and $550,000.

In December 2015, Agobe withdrew $3,000 from a Bank of America account which contained the proceeds of a scheme to defraud in which a business in Kelso, Washington, was induced by fraud to transfer $47,700 from its bank account to a bank account at Bank of the West, in Mission, Kansas. A portion of this money was subsequently transferred to the Bank of America account from which Agobe withdrew $3,000.

In February 2016, 21 counterfeit checks in amounts totaling $99,055 which purported to be drawn on an account of a business in Mustang, Oklahoma, at All America Bank, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were deposited into an account at Bank of America. Agobe subsequently withdrew $1,990 from this Bank of America account. As part of the plea agreement in this case, the parties agreed that the loss from Agobe’s money laundering activity was $68,968.

Agobe pled guilty to three counts of theft of government property and two counts of money laundering before United States District Judge Ronnie L. White.

Theft of government funds carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Each count of money laundering carries a maximum of 20 years and/or fines up to $500,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Kelso, Washington Police Department.

Outcome: Guilty

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Defendant's Experts:

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