President Of Queens-Based Construction Company Pleads Guilty To Fraud In Connection With Homeless Shelter Contracts Worth $12 Million
Liaquat Cheema, the President of Queens-based AFL Construction Co
Liaquat Cheema, the President of Queens-based AFL Construction Co. Inc., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for leading a scheme to defraud New York City in connection with $12 million in public contracts for homeless shelter maintenance. Cheema and others submitted fraudulent invoices and documentation, and also obtained tens of thousands of dollars in Medicaid benefits by underreporting their incomes. Cheema agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture of $3,267,811 and faces up to 20 years in prison. He also agreed to pay back misappropriated Medicaid funds.
Liaquat Cheema, the President of Queens-based AFL Construction Co. Inc., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for leading a scheme to defraud New York City in connection with $12 million in public contracts for homeless shelter maintenance. Cheema and others submitted fraudulent invoices and documentation, and also obtained tens of thousands of dollars in Medicaid benefits by underreporting their incomes. Cheema agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture of $3,267,811 and faces up to 20 years in prison. He also agreed to pay back misappropriated Medicaid funds. Liaquat Cheema, president of Queens-based AFL Construction Co. Inc., pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for orchestrating a scheme to defraud New York City of approximately $12 million in public contracts meant for homeless shelter maintenance. Cheema and co-conspirators submitted fraudulent invoices falsifying work performed and inflating material costs, while also misusing identities of non-working individuals and submitting forged documents, including employment letters bearing the name of a deceased person. In addition to contract fraud, Cheema fraudulently obtained tens of thousands in Medicaid benefits by underreporting income using falsified documentation. As part of his plea agreement, Cheema agreed to pay $3,267,811 in restitution and forfeiture. He faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing. Liaquat Cheema, president of Queens-based AFL Construction Co. Inc., pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for orchestrating a scheme to defraud New York City of approximately $12 million in public contracts meant for maintenance at homeless shelters. Cheema and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent invoices that falsely claimed work was performed and inflated material costs, while also misusing the identities and Social Security numbers of individuals who never worked on the projects. In addition, Cheema fraudulently obtained tens of thousands of dollars in Medicaid benefits by submitting falsified income certifications and forged employment letters, including one bearing the name of a deceased person. As part of his plea agreement, Cheema agreed to pay $3,267,811 in restitution and forfeiture, and faces up to 20 years in prison. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the New York City Department of Investigation.
Extracted insights
- $12.00M $12 Million $10M–$100M
- $12.00M $12 million $10M–$100M
- $3.27M $3,267,811 $1M–$10M
- company afl construction co. inc.
- scheme_term conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- person damian williams
- person homeless shelter contracts
- person liaquat cheema
- Liaquat Cheema pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Liaquat Cheema was President of AFL Construction Co. Inc.
- AFL Construction Co. Inc. entered into public contracts worth $12 million
- AFL Construction Co. Inc. located in Queens, New York
- Liaquat Cheema led scheme to defraud New York City
- Liaquat Cheema submitted fraudulent invoices for homeless shelter contracts
- Liaquat Cheema obtained fraudulently tens of thousands of dollars in Medicaid benefits
- Liaquat Cheema agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture of $3,267,811
- Liaquat Cheema faces maximum sentence of 20 years in prison
- Liaquat Cheema age 64
- Liaquat Cheema resides in East Elmhurst, New York
- Damian Williams is United States Attorney for Southern District of New York
- Liaquat Cheema and others fraudulently enriched themselves from public contracts 2014-2017
Press Release President Of Queens-Based Construction Company Pleads Guilty To Fraud In Connection With Homeless Shelter Contracts Worth $12 Million Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LIAQUAT CHEEMA pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his leadership of a scheme to defraud New York City (the “City”) in connection with public contracts to perform general contracting work at City homeless shelters. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Liaquat Cheema has admitted to leading a scheme to steal millions of dollars in public funds intended to pay for vital maintenance at homeless shelters in New York City. This Office has no tolerance for those who use public contracts intended to aid underserved members of our society to fraudulently enrich themselves. We will continue to aggressively detect and dismantle schemes such as this one.” According to the Indictment to which CHEEMA pled guilty, the Complaint, the plea agreement, and statements made in court: LIAQUAT CHEEMA was the President of AFL Construction Co. Inc. (“AFL”), located in Queens, New York. AFL entered into public contracts with the City worth approximately $12 million to perform general contracting work at homeless shelters located in the City, including in the Southern District of New York. Pursuant to the contracts, AFL was to perform, among other things, general maintenance, landscaping, roofing, and snow removal at shelter sites. From at least in or about 2014 through at least in or about 2017, CHEEMA and others used the contracts to fraudulently enrich themselves and steal from the City. In furtherance of the scheme, CHEEMA and others, among other things, submitted fraudulent invoices and other documentation in support of requests for payment on the contracts, which falsely claimed that workers had performed work on certain projects and inflated amounts paid by the defendants for materials purportedly used on such projects. These fraudulent invoices and supporting documentation contained, without authorization, the identities of other persons, including the names, and in at least one case, the social security number, of purported workers who in fact had not worked on the projects specified in the requests for payment submitted by CHEEMA and others. CHEEMA and others also obtained tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of Medicaid benefits by repeatedly submitting fraudulent certifications, which underreported their actual incomes and accordingly enabled them to obtain Medicaid benefits for which they were not eligible. In support of requests for Medicaid benefits, CHEEMA and others repeatedly submitted nearly identical employment letters, which, among other misrepresentations, contained the name and purported signature of a purported “Project Manager” who, in fact, was deceased. In connection with his guilty plea, CHEEMA agreed to pay back the money misappropriated from Medicaid. * * * LIAQUAT CHEEMA, 64, of East Elmhurst, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, CHEEMA agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture of $3,267,811. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the work of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the New York City Department of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy V. Capozzi is in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff (212) 637-2600 Updated March 5, 2024 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 24-082
Press Release President Of Queens-Based Construction Company Pleads Guilty To Fraud In Connection With Homeless Shelter Contracts Worth $12 Million Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LIAQUAT CHEEMA pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his leadership of a scheme to defraud New York City (the “City”) in connection with public contracts to perform general contracting work at City homeless shelters. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Liaquat Cheema has admitted to leading a scheme to steal millions of dollars in public funds intended to pay for vital maintenance at homeless shelters in New York City. This Office has no tolerance for those who use public contracts intended to aid underserved members of our society to fraudulently enrich themselves. We will continue to aggressively detect and dismantle schemes such as this one.” According to the Indictment to which CHEEMA pled guilty, the Complaint, the plea agreement, and statements made in court: LIAQUAT CHEEMA was the President of AFL Construction Co. Inc. (“AFL”), located in Queens, New York. AFL entered into public contracts with the City worth approximately $12 million to perform general contracting work at homeless shelters located in the City, including in the Southern District of New York. Pursuant to the contracts, AFL was to perform, among other things, general maintenance, landscaping, roofing, and snow removal at shelter sites. From at least in or about 2014 through at least in or about 2017, CHEEMA and others used the contracts to fraudulently enrich themselves and steal from the City. In furtherance of the scheme, CHEEMA and others, among other things, submitted fraudulent invoices and other documentation in support of requests for payment on the contracts, which falsely claimed that workers had performed work on certain projects and inflated amounts paid by the defendants for materials purportedly used on such projects. These fraudulent invoices and supporting documentation contained, without authorization, the identities of other persons, including the names, and in at least one case, the social security number, of purported workers who in fact had not worked on the projects specified in the requests for payment submitted by CHEEMA and others. CHEEMA and others also obtained tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of Medicaid benefits by repeatedly submitting fraudulent certifications, which underreported their actual incomes and accordingly enabled them to obtain Medicaid benefits for which they were not eligible. In support of requests for Medicaid benefits, CHEEMA and others repeatedly submitted nearly identical employment letters, which, among other misrepresentations, contained the name and purported signature of a purported “Project Manager” who, in fact, was deceased. In connection with his guilty plea, CHEEMA agreed to pay back the money misappropriated from Medicaid. * * * LIAQUAT CHEEMA, 64, of East Elmhurst, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, CHEEMA agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture of $3,267,811. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the work of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the New York City Department of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy V. Capozzi is in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff (212) 637-2600 Updated March 5, 2024 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 24-082