BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) — A Woburn man is facing federal charges in a major tax refund fraud scheme involving U.S. Treasury checks worth over $700,000, the Department of Justice announced.
Nnamdi Opara, 30, has been charged with:
Two counts of bank fraud
Five counts of money laundering
According to the DOJ, Opara wrongfully obtained two U.S. Treasury tax refund checks intended for AFGO Mechanical Services, Inc., a legitimate company based in New York.
To carry out the fraud, Opara allegedly:
Registered a new company with the same name — AFGO Mechanical Services, Inc. — in Massachusetts
Created and controlled a bank account under the fraudulent company
Named himself as the President, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, Director, and Registered Agent
He then deposited the stolen refund checks — totaling $700,767 — into the account he controlled.
If convicted, Opara faces:
Up to 30 years in prison for each bank fraud charge
Up to 20 years for each money laundering charge
Significant fines and supervised release
The case is being prosecuted by federal authorities in Massachusetts. No trial date has been announced yet.
