Boston Real Estate Search
A manager at the Bank of America on the downtown Boston real estate branch on Federal Street faces federal wire-fraud and money-laundering charges for the way he allegedly embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from an investment firm with two dozen accounts at the bank.
Boston Real Estate Bank Ex Stole Money
Ali, at the time the firm’s client-relationship manager at Bank of America, allegedly diverted some $1.5 million from three of the firm’s accounts, but ultimately kept $600,000 for himself and returned the rest to the legitimate accounts, the affidavit states.
Among the things he allegedly used the money for: Paying off $144,000 worth of credit-card debt, buying $90,914 worth of stuff at the Apple Store, Saks Fifth Avenue, Burberry, Bloomingdale’s, Nieman Marcus, Christian Louboutin, Tag Heuer, and Best Buy and wiring $18,500 to a relative’s account in Pakistan. On Dec. 27, 2016, he used $63,293 to help buy a Porsche SUV, according to the affidavit. In 2018, he then sold the SUV to another dealer for $48,900. He also used his ATM card for the bogus account to make withdrawals totaling more than $221,000, mostly from one ATM at the Bank of America building and from a Citizens Bank ATM near his home, according to the affidavit.
Boston Real Estate Bank Ex and the Botton Line
Ali closed the fraudulent account on July 12, 2017. In August, 2018, an employee at the firm discovered major discrepancies in its books while attempting to reconcile its accounts, the affidavit states.
On Sept. 6, 2018, Ali faced Bank of America investigators. According to the affidavit:
Ali stated to investigators that he specifically targeted the Victim Company because the Victim Family had previously been defrauded in a separate incident and never pressed charges. Ali stated he believed that even if his activity was discovered, the Victim Family and/or Victim Company would not press charges against him.
The bank fired him not long after, the affidavit states.
The US Attorney’s office reports he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, plus restitution
Boston Real Estate Search
