Federal authorities are searching for a foreign national with Cincinnati ties who is wanted in connection with a money-laundering scheme that spans several states.
A federal arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Ismail Shalash, 36, a dual citizen of Jordan and Palestine. He is charged with wire fraud and laundering of money instruments, according to an FBI press release.
Officials say Shalash would sell luxury vehicles online to car dealership owners in several states but failed to deliver those vehicles as promised after receiving payment.
Shalash occasionally used the alias Armand Brigante of MDDI Inc. as part of his scheme to deceive buyers, officials said.
"In most instances and when the victims believed an unreasonable amount of time passed for the purchased vehicles to be delivered, victims would aggressively try to contact Shalash to no avail or without remedy," the release states. "Ultimately, the vehicles were never delivered and the victims received no refund."
According to federal authorities, Shalash is accused of attempting to defraud eight victims in five states out of a total of $3.4 million and successfully defrauding five victims in four states out of a total of $1.7 million.
Officials are asking anyone with information regarding Salash's whereabouts to contact their local FBI field office or the nearest American embassy or consulate.
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