Hungarian National Charged In Internet Car Sales Scam

Istvan Zoltan Foris, 44, of Szarvas, Hungary, was charged on November 8, 2013, by Information, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and possession of a fraudulent passport, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  Foris conspired with others to defraud persons who sought to purchase used vehicles on the internet.  Foris used false passports supplied by other conspirators to open bank accounts in the United States for the purpose of receiving funds obtained by fraud from the prospective buyers.  These buyers would wire money to the bank accounts opened by Foris and Foris would immediately withdraw the funds and then wire most of the money to conspirators outside the United States.  The buyers were not able to recover the funds they sent after they discovered that the offers to sell the vehicles were fraudulent.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in prison, three years of supervised release, possible fines, restitution, and forfeiture, and a $200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Glenn.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525