BOSTON - A Hungarian man was convicted today in federal court on charges related to a fraudulent scheme to sell vehicles over the Internet.
Zsolt Lendvai, 26, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money-laundering and using a false, forged, counterfeit or altered passport in connection with the scheme to defraud.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the Government’s evidence would have proven that in October 2011, Lendvai, and another conspirator, entered the United States from Hungary. While here, a conspirator identified as Z.K., provided them false passports and other identity documents. At Z.K.’s direction, Lendvai and the other conspirator used their new false identities to open up mailboxes and bank accounts. Other conspirators then fraudulently sold vehicles over the Internet and directed purchasers to send the purchase money to the conspiracy’s newly-opened bank accounts. Lendvai and his co-conspirator transferred the proceeds, often by wiring them to bank accounts in Hong Kong or elsewhere outside the U.S. More than $1 million moved through these accounts.
U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole, scheduled sentencing for Nov. 8, 2012. Lendvai faces up to 30 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money laundered, whichever is higher.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Bruce Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Robert Bethel, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott L. Garland and Veronica Lei of Ortiz’s Cybercrimes and Asset Forfeiture Units.
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