A Boston car dealership owner is facing serious charges after allegedly pocketing over $1.3 million in a massive tax refund scam.
The Scheme
31-year-old Jessie El-Ghoul, owner of Affordable Motor Group, is accused of depositing a forged $1.34 million tax refund check into his business account. The check, originally intended for a Canadian company, was allegedly fraudulently obtained. To cover his tracks, El-Ghoul then withdrew the money, using it to write cashier’s checks payable to various shell companies and a law firm. This is considered money laundering.
The Arrest and Charges
El-Ghoul was arrested on June 6th and hit with some hefty charges:
- Theft of government funds (up to 10 years in prison)
- Bank fraud (up to 30 years in prison)
- Four counts of money laundering (up to 20 years for each count)
Part of a Larger Ring?
This wasn’t a solo operation, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). El-Ghoul was allegedly part of a larger group of eight individuals who stole a total of $8.8 million in tax refunds between 2023 and 2024. The DOJ stated that this group used Massachusetts businesses and banks to funnel the stolen money. US Attorney Leah B. Foley emphasized that stealing government funds is a serious crime.