8 Mass. residents accused of stealing nearly $9 million in federal tax refunds
Eight Massachusetts residents have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into Massachusetts-based theft of U.S. Treasury tax refunds, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday.
The defendants are facing theft of government funds charges in connection with stealing a total of more than $8.8 million in taxpayer dollars in 2023 and 2024, the U.S. Attorney's office said in a press release. The defendants are accused of stealing between $150,000 and over $2.5 million.
Each one is accused of altering a U.S. Treasury tax refund check or credit that was due to a taxpayer to make it payable to shell companies within their control, the U.S. Attorney's office said. They then deposited the check or credit in bank accounts around Greater Boston.
The defendants include:
Framingham resident Gurprit Singh, 34, who is charged with stealing $2,547,508.
Leominster resident Jesse El-Ghoul, 31, who is charged with stealing $1,355,863.
Framingham resident Domingo Villari, 49, who is charged with stealing $1,288,575.
Quincy resident Eric Banks, 70, who is charged with stealing $1,173,482.
Brockton resident Gino Rosario Tyler Alexander Allegra, 31, who is charged with stealing $861,646.
Woburn resident Nnamdi Opara, 30, who is charged with stealing $700,767.
Framingham resident Amarpreet Singh, 33, who is charged with stealing $536,214.
Boston resident Lonnie Smith-Matthews, 33, who is charged with stealing $150,000, as well as bank fraud in the amount of $232,588.
'As alleged, these defendants stole millions in tax refunds owed to hardworking Americans and used Massachusetts businesses and community banks to defraud the U.S. Treasury,' Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in the release. 'Would-be thieves should understand that taking government money is not a victimless crime. If you cash or deposit a refund check that you know is not yours, you will be prosecuted.'
It is unclear whether the defendants have any kind of relationship with one another or whether they were part of an organized effort to steal tax refunds. The U.S. Attorney's office also did not say whether or not more defendants are expected to be charged in connection with the ongoing investigation.
Banks, El-Ghoul, Gurprit Singh, Opara, Smith-Matthews and Villari were arraigned in federal court in Boston on Friday, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Allegra and Amarpreet Singh were still at-large as of Friday.
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 up to $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.
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