N.J. men charged with running telemarketing scam targeting seniors, found guilty

N.J. men charged with running telemarketing scam targeting seniors found guilty 

DOJ Link

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/two-men-found-guilty-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering-connection-telemarketing-fraud

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

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:

Assistant US Attorney Benet Kearney gives closing statement to the jury in the US v Owimrin trial. Judge Sidney Stein presiding. ( Click on the image to see larger) Artwork by Elizabeth Williams 

NJ. COM

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/03/6_nj_men_charged_with_running_telemarketing_scam_t.html