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Press Release

Former Boston Police Auto Repair Technician Agrees to Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts
Defendant allegedly embezzled more than $260,000 from BPD in automotive supplies

BOSTON – A former auto repair technician with the Boston Police Department’s (BPD) Fleet Management Division has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with a scheme to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from the BPD.

Bahram Gharony, 36, of Boston, has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of wire fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the court. 

According to the charging document, Gharony is alleged to have engaged in a scheme to defraud BPD’s Fleet Management Division of over $260,000 in automotive parts, tools and supplies between June 2017 and September 2020. It is alleged that Gharony used his position to order parts and supplies that he purported were for BPD, but were actually converted and sold to others by Gharony. In an effort to conceal the scheme, Gharony allegedly submitted fraudulent and altered invoices to BPD for the parts, tools and supplies he falsely claimed were ordered for the fleet. Additionally, Gharony purported that he had lawfully purchased the items through a discount available to BPD when selling the items to others.

The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher Jr. of Mendell’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Updated July 30, 2021

Topic
Public Corruption