Yonkers Man Pleads Guilty In White Plains Federal Court To Impersonating An FBI Agent

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that AYMAN RABADI, of Yonkers, New York, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud in connection with charges that he impersonated a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”). RABADI was charged in April 2013, and pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Ayman Rabadi is a serial offender who has a track record of impersonating law enforcement officials for the purpose of preying on susceptible victims and stealing their money in exchange for empty promises. He will now be held to account for his crimes.”

According to the Complaint and Information, and statements made at today’s plea proceeding in White Plains federal court:

From November 2010 until his arrest on April 18, 2013, RABADI impersonated an FBI agent, and in doing so, obtained at least $180,000 and other things of value from individuals he promised that he could provide various forms of federal assistance. RABADI was arrested shortly after he accepted $10,000 in cash from an undercover agent of the FBI who was posing as the niece of one of his victims. The money was purportedly a down payment toward the $300,000 RABADI requested in exchange for obtaining the release of the victim’s relatives from jail. He was arrested immediately after leaving the Yonkers restaurant where the payment was made, and was in possession of the $10,000.

RABADI has an extensive criminal history that includes a 2008 conviction in the state of New Jersey for the felony of theft by deception. In that case, he created the false impression that there were criminal charges pending against a victim, that RABADI was connected to law enforcement, and he could thwart the charges for $75,000.

RABADI, 52, of Yonkers, NY, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud. He will face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $380,000 when he is sentenced by Judge Karas on September 10, 2013.

Mr. Bharara praised the work of the FBI in this investigation.

The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Elliott B. Jacobson is in charge of the prosecution.