Worcester Man Charged With Attempting to Fraudulently Purchase $83,000 Sports Car

BOSTON – A Worcester man was arrested and charged yesterday with attempting to fraudulently purchase a Chevrolet Camaro valued at $83,000 using the bank account of an Arizona resident. 

Brandon Brouillard, 27, was charged with one count of bank fraud. Brouillard was detained following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.

According to the charging documents, on April 17, 2021, Brouillard arrived at a Chevrolet dealership in Norwood, Mass. to test drive a 2021 Chevrolet Camaro. After test-driving the Camaro, Brouillard allegedly agreed to purchase it for $83,000 and paid for the vehicle with a cashier’s check made out to the dealership. It is alleged that Brouillard provided his Massachusetts driver’s license, proof of insurance and signed a sales contract, Massachusetts application for registration and car title in connection with the purchase. 

On April 19, 2021, Brouillard allegedly picked up the Camaro from the dealership. On April 23, 2021, the dealership learned that the account listed on the bank check provided by Brouillard was frozen. The dealership contacted Brouillard, who allegedly promised that he would wire $83,000 to pay for the car.

On April 26, 2021, an Arizona resident contacted local police and reported an attempted fraudulent wire transfer of $83,000 from the victim’s bank account. The victim reported that a fraudulent email purportedly from the victim was sent to the bank, requesting a wire transfer of $83,000 to pay for the victim’s “brother-in-law’s car.” The bank contacted the victim for verification, and the victim did not approve the transfer. It is alleged that starting in or about September 2020, the victim’s accounts were compromised, and large fraudulent purchases were made and shipped to Brouillard’s address. It is estimated that approximately $500,000 of the victim’s funds were stolen.

The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. 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 and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Braintree, Moultonborough (N.H.), Natick, Newton, Norwood, Worcester and Scottsdale (Ariz.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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