United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

JORDANIAN CITIZEN RESIDING IN EASTON PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING, IMMIGRATION AND TAX OFFENSES

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FARES KHRAISAT, 38, a citizen of Jordan last residing in Easton, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to federal charges related to his participation in a commercial bribery scheme, as well as tax and immigration offenses.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, KHRAISAT owned and operated Zam-Zam Telecard, Inc., a Bridgeport-based phone card company.  In pleading guilty, KHRAISAT admitted that he paid more than $400,000 in bribe payments to Jonathan Kaplan, a co-defendant, in order to receive favorable treatment from Kaplan’s company.  KHRAISAT also admitted that he and others provided between $400,000 and $500,000 in cash, which represented proceeds of illegal activity, to several other co-defendants, who then transferred the funds to a bank account in Jordan, via Hong Kong.  KHRAISAT also admitted that he made false statements on an immigration application and his 2005 tax returns.

Today, KHRAISAT pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of making a false statement on an immigration application, and one count of making a false statement on a tax return.

Judge Underhill has scheduled sentencing for May 1, 2008, at which time KHRAISAT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 53 years.  KHRAISAT also has agreed to forfeit a house that he purchased for $1.9 million, his business property that he purchased for more than $1 million, a car that he purchased for $200,000 in cash, $50,000 in cash that was seized from him, as well as a Rolex watch that he purchased for $38,000.  KHRAISAT also faces possible deportation.

On November 14, 2007, Jonathan Kaplan pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion.  He awaits sentencing.

On January 31, 2008, KHRAISAT’s wife, Jumana Qutishat, also known as “Jumana Quitshat” or “Jumana Khraisat,” pleaded guilty to obtaining citizenship by fraud.  Qutishat participated in a sham marriage in order to obtain U.S. citizenship.  She then sought to help her true husband, KHRAISAT, obtain citizenship based on her own, fraudulently obtained citizenship.  Qutishat awaits sentencing.

This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division; the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Custom Enforcement; the United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David A. Ring.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov