DES PLAINES, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)— A Federal Jury has charged an Illinois man with conspiracy to commit wire fraud along with two counts of wire fraud.
According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Abdul Mohammed, 31, of Des Plaines, Illinois is a fugitive after working with co-conspirators who participated in a scheme posing as government agents and contacted victims, typically the elderly. The conspirators would then inform the victim that they had been compromised in some way and needed to pay federal law enforcement for safekeeping. They would have victims empty their savings and retirement, then convert that money into cash or gold bars before providing them to law enforcement for “protection.”
In one instance the conspirators posed as an “Agent Roy” sending phone calls, texts, and emails to a victim claiming that their computer was compromised and that the victim was implicated in a drug crime. “Agent Roy” then told the victim to withdraw $80,000 from his retirement and exchange it for gold bars or his account would be frozen by the IRS. One of the conspirators then met the victim in a Meijer parking lot in Westfield. They then continued the scheme telling the victim they needed more money and emailed a fake document with a “seal” from the Department of Justice. The document stated that if the victim shared any of the details their accounts would be frozen. A few weeks later, Mohammed met the victim in the same parking lot and collected another $45,000.
The FBI is currently investigating the case and is asking for any help from the public. If convicted Mohammed faces up to 60 years in federal prison.
“There is an outstanding warrant for the arrest of Abdul Mohammed, a resident of Des Plaines, Illinois, following a federal indictment alleging his involvement in a scheme to defraud elderly victims through false claims that federal law enforcement agencies were seeking to keep their money safe,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We encourage Mr. Mohammed to contact the FBI immediately to arrange for his safe surrender to answer the charges against him. Mr. Mohammed, or anyone with information on his whereabouts, should contact the FBI at 317-595-4000 or FBI.gov/tips.”
