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United States of America v. Muhammad Babar Chaudhry
Date: 08-11-2025
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Court: The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for St. Louis
Defendant's Attorney: Click Here For The Best St. Louis, MissouriCriminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory
St. Louis, Missouri criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Stealing Millions of Dollars from Missouri Grocery Chain
Ohio Man Accused of Stealing Millions of Dollars from Missouri Grocery Chain
An Ohio man accused of defrauding a Missouri grocery chain out of more than $15 million worth of groceries and inventory has been arrested.
Muhammad Babar Chaudhry, 46, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on July 23 with four counts of wire fraud. He was arrested Wednesday night. On Friday, he was ordered held in jail until trial at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
The indictment says Chaudhry owns a grocery chain in southern Ohio called Sunshine Stores LLC. Beginning in May of 2021, the Missouri chain licensed its brand to 38 stores operated by Chaudhry and supplied those stores with groceries, the indictment says. In March of 2023, Chaudhry ordered $7.6 million in groceries and inventory from the Missouri chain with no intention of paying, the indictment says. He ordered $7.5 million more in April of 2023, the indictment says, then repeatedly lied to the victim company about payments. An employee was told to lie and say that Chaudhry was out of the country, and later say that "fraudulent activity†caused the failure to pay, the indictment says. Chaudhry intentionally drained his bank accounts so the victim company could not withdraw the funds and then falsely claimed he was wiring the payments, the indictment says.
A motion seeking to have Chaudhry held in jail until trial says he stole copper from one grocery store that will cost $1 million to replace and had concrete poured down the sinks and drains at the victim company's grocery stores.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Muhammad Babar Chaudhry?
The outcome was: Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. .
Which court heard United States of America v. Muhammad Babar Chaudhry?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, MO.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Muhammad Babar Chaudhry?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for St. Louis. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best St. Louis, MissouriCriminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Muhammad Babar Chaudhry decided?
This case was decided on August 11, 2025.