Newton Man Pleads Guilty to Business Loan Scheme

BOSTON – A Newton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with illegally using the identity of another individual to apply for two business loans. 

Igor Mosieev, 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Aug. 6, 2019. In June 2018, Mosieev was arrested and charged with co-defendant Alexander Grinis, 47, of Jamaica Plain.  

As alleged in the indictment, Grinis was the manager of Eastern Bank in Auburndale. Among his responsibilities were assisting customers with opening and closing accounts and applying for loans and lines of credit. In approximately February 2015, Grinis assisted Mosieev in opening a checking and savings account at Eastern Bank with the license and Social Security card of another individual, without the knowledge or consent of that person. Later that year, Grinis allegedly assisted Mosieev in adding the individual to a business account in the name of TFC Enterprises, LLC. Thereafter, Moiseev forged the individual’s name on applications for two purported business loans. On each loan application, Grinis falsely certified that he had complied with all bank procedures and, as a result, the loans were approved. The proceeds of the two loans were subsequently distributed to the business checking account and Moiseev forged the individual’s name on checks and withdrew money from the account to pay for his own personal expenses. In addition, Moiseev, with Grinis’ assistance, caused proceeds from the business checking account to be wire transferred to Russia, Canada, and elsewhere overseas using the individual’s name. Both loans defaulted and were never paid back to Eastern Bank, resulting in a loss of over $90,000.

The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

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