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United States of America v. Jesse El-Ghoul
Date: 08-01-2025
Case Number:
Judge:
Court: The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Boston
Defendant's Attorney: Click Here For The Best Boston, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory
Boston, Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Theft of Government Funds, Bank Fraud and Money Laundering
Leominster Man Indicted for Theft of Government Funds, Bank Fraud and Money Laundering in Connection With Stolen $1,355,000 Tax Refund Check
A Leominster man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with an alleged scheme to steal $1,355,863 by depositing a forged tax refund check and then laundering the money using cashier's checks payable to shell companies.
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. El-Ghoul was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on June 6, 2025.
According to the charging documents, El-Ghoul owned and operated Affordable Motor Group in Leominster, Mass., and owed back taxes for the business. On March 29, 2024, El-Ghoul allegedly deposited a tax refund check for $1,344,863, payable to Affordable Motor Group into his business bank account. It is alleged that the check had been issued by the U.S. Treasury to a Canadian company, based on its 2021 tax return, and the check had been forged and altered to be payable to El-Ghoul's company.
In the days after depositing the check, El-Ghoul returned to the bank and bought cashier's checks for $235,280, $223,591, $202,643, and $425,000 payable to shell companies and to a law firm in connection with a third-party real estate transaction, in eastern Massachusetts.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transactions, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, OIG; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Jesse El-Ghoul?
The outcome was: The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Which court heard United States of America v. Jesse El-Ghoul?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, MA.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Jesse El-Ghoul?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Boston. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Boston, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Jesse El-Ghoul decided?
This case was decided on August 1, 2025.