2018-11-07 DOJ SDNY press_release 121 KB 6,692 chars

Two Men Found Guilty Of Wire Fraud And Money Laundering In Connection With Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly

Caption: United States v. Andrew Owimrin, et al.

summary

Andrew Owimrin and Shahram Ketabchi were convicted of conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering by running a telemarketing scheme that deceived elderly victims into investing thousands in fake business services, then falsifying documents to block refunds, facing up to 20 years in prison each.

paragraph

Andrew Owimrin and Shahram Ketabchi were found guilty of conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering in a telemarketing scheme that ran from October 2013 to March 2017, targeting victims over 70 years old. They and their associates at companies like Olive Branch Marketing and A1 Business Consultants promised false returns on investments in website design, grant applications, and tax services, stealing thousands of dollars while submitting fabricated documentation to credit card companies to dispute chargebacks. Both face up to 20 years in prison each, with sentencing scheduled for February 2019, following a 12-day trial in Manhattan federal court.

narrative

Andrew Owimrin and Shahram Ketabchi were convicted in Manhattan federal court of conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering in a telemarketing scheme that operated from October 2013 to March 2017, preying on elderly victims. They worked through multiple fraudulent companies—including Olive Branch Marketing and A1 Business Consultants—promising high returns on investments in business services such as website design, grant applications, and tax preparation, none of which were ever delivered. When victims sought refunds or disputed charges, Ketabchi, in particular, submitted falsified documentation to credit card companies to falsely confirm service delivery and block recovery. The scheme defrauded numerous victims, most over 70, and involved a broader network of 13 other convicted individuals linked to similar fraudulent enterprises. Owimrin served as a sales representative, while Ketabchi handled fraudulent chargeback responses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York prosecuted the case, with investigative support from Homeland Security Investigations and the NYPD. Both defendants, aged 29 and 47 respectively, face maximum sentences of 20 years in prison and were scheduled for sentencing in February 2019.

Enriched metadata

Scheme: non-corporate (95%)
Court: Southern District of New York
Outcome: convicted

Classified non-corporate(confidence 95%). No EDGAR filing fingerprint (criminal/DOJ-side scheme). detection rule →

Extracted insights

Entities 9

person andrew owimrin
person fraudulent scheme
scheme_term money laundering
person olive branch marketing
person sales representative
person shahram ketabchi
person telemarketing companies
scheme_term wire fraud
scheme_term wire fraud and money laundering

Triples 18

Two Men Found Guilty Wire Fraud And Money Laundering
Andrew Owimrin Conspired To Commit Wire Fraud
Andrew Owimrin Conspired To Commit Money Laundering
Shahram Ketabchi Conspired To Commit Wire Fraud
Shahram Ketabchi Conspired To Commit Money Laundering
OWIMRIN and KETABCHI Were Convicted Following 12-day Trial
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman Said Andrew Owimrin and Shahram Ketabchi conspired to target and victimize elderly people through aggressive and deceptive telemarketing
OWIMRIN and KETABCHI Worked For Telemarketing Companies
Telemarketing Companies Engaged In Fraudulent Scheme
OWIMRIN Worked As Sales Representative
OWIMRIN Worked For Olive Branch Marketing
OWIMRIN Worked For A1 Business Consultants
KETABCHI Worked For A1 Business Consultants
KETABCHI Was Responsible For Submission Of False Documentation To The Credit Card Companies
Telemarketing Companies Provided Explanations And Documentation To The Credit Card Companies
Victims Invested Thousands Of Dollars With The Telemarketing Companies
Telemarketing Companies Falsely Represented Victims Had Received The Promised Services
Thirteen Other Individuals Have Been Convicted In Connection With This Case

View original DOJ press releasejustice.gov

Extracted body text (6,692c)

Press Release Two Men Found Guilty Of Wire Fraud And Money Laundering In Connection With Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly Wednesday, November 7, 2018 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 Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced that ANDREW OWIMRIN, a/k/a “Andrew Owens,” a/k/a “Jonathan Stewart,” and SHAHRAM KETABCHI, a/k/a “Steve Ketabchi,” were found guilty today in Manhattan federal court of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering in connection with a telemarketing scheme. OWIMRIN and KETABCHI were convicted following 12-day trial before United States District Judge Sidney H. Stein. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Andrew Owimrin and Shahram Ketabchi conspired to target and victimize elderly people through aggressive and deceptive telemarketing. The various so-called investment opportunities were really just variations on fraudulent schemes to steal investors’ money. Now Owimrin and Ketabchi await sentencing for their crimes.” According to the Superseding Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and the evidence presented at trial: Beginning in at least October 2013 through March 21, 2017, OWIMRIN and KETABCHI worked for telemarketing companies (the “Telemarketing Companies”) that engaged in a fraudulent scheme (the “Telemarketing Scheme”), by which they promised to earn victims (the “Victims”) money in exchange for particular Victims making an initial cash “investment” in business development, website design, grant applications, or tax preparation services. Many Victims, the majority of whom are over 70 years old, “invested” thousands of dollars with the Telemarketing Companies, but did not earn any of the promised returns. When Victims sought refunds, or fought credit card charges, the Telemarketing Companies provided explanations and documentation to the credit card companies falsely representing that the Victims had received the promised services. OWIMRIN worked as a sales representative for two of the Telemarketing Companies, Olive Branch Marketing and A1 Business Consultants. KETABCHI, who worked for A1 Business Consultants, was responsible for, among other things, the submission of false documentation to the credit card companies in order to challenge the Victims’ attempts to recover their funds. Thirteen other individuals have been convicted in connection with this case: Defendant Name Companies Count(s) of Conviction Arash Ketabchi A1 Business Consultants, Elevated Business Consultants, Element Business Services Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) William Sinclair Olive Branch Marketing, Paramount Business Solutions Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1349) Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)) Michael Finocchiaro Olive Branch Marketing, Paramount Business Solutions Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1349) Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)) Narcotics Conspiracy (21 U.S.C. § 846) Joseph McGowan Carlyle Management Group, Vanguard Business Solutions Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) Christopher Wilson Olive Branch Marketing, Paramount Business Solutions, CTO Consulting Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) Jack Kavner Carlyle Management Group, Vanguard Business Solutions Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) Daniel Quirk Carlyle Management Group, Vanguard Business Solutions Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1349) Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)) Narcotics Conspiracy (21 U.S.C. § 846) Peter DiQuarto Elenchus Business Services Harbinger Capital Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1349) Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)) Narcotics Conspiracy (21 U.S.C. § 846) Thomas O’Reilly CTO Consulting Obstruction of Justice (18 U.S.C. § 1519) Raymond Quiles Prestige Worldwide Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) Brooke Marcus First Trend Tri-Star Elite Business Services Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) Anthony Medeiros Virtual Business Plus Narcotics Conspiracy (21 U.S.C. §§ 846) Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) * * * OWIMRIN, 29, of Hackensack, New Jersey, and KETABCHI, 47, of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, were each convicted of one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. OWIMRIN and KETABCHI are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Stein on February 12, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher, Robert B. Sobelman, and Benet J. Kearney are in charge of the prosecution. If you believe to have been a victim of the telemarketing companies listed above, including a victim entitled to restitution, and you wish to provide information to law enforcement and/or receive notice of future developments in the case or additional information, please contact Wendy Olsen-Clancy, the Victim Witness Coordinator at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at 866-874-8900 or [email protected]. You may also report it to Detective Christopher Bastos at 917-480-7167 or [email protected]. Updated November 7, 2018 Topics Elder Justice Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 18-390

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