Former Ag. Commodities Business Employee Sentenced for Wire Fraud

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Omer Sagheer, 48, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment for wire fraud.  After his release from prison, Sagheer will begin a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Restitution in the amount of $232,390.39 was paid in full.

An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation determined that Sagheer was employed as Treasurer with The Scoular Company located in Omaha.  Scoular is engaged in the purchase, sale, and transportation of agriculture commodities.  During his employment, Sagheer had access to the company’s bank accounts and other financial documents, including checks made payable to Scoular.  From February 2017 through July 2019, Sagheer fraudulently endorsed and deposited into his personal bank account checks made payable to Scoular.  Sagheer would typically deposit the checks through ATM machines into his personal bank account in order to avoid detection and to hide the fraud from his employer.  Once the check was deposited into Sagheer 's bank account, he would electronically transfer funds from the bank account to financial accounts located in the United States and Canada.

The FBI determined that between February 2017 and July 2019 Sagheer endorsed and deposited into his personal bank account approximately 10 checks which totaled approximately $232,390.39.  The fraudulently deposited funds were used by Sagheer to pay for his personal “lifestyle” spending, which included expenses incurred during trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Canada; the purchase of a 2019 Mercedes-Benz convertible; numerous withdrawals of cash; and personal credit card payments.

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Omer Sagheer violated the trust of his employer, who gave him a position of leadership.  Instead of honoring that trust, he enriched himself at the expense of his employer.  The FBI, with our partners, will always aggressively pursue those who commit financial fraud and make sure they are held accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.