Morris Extradited From Brazil to Face $2M Fraud

BOSTON – Years after fleeing the country, alleged fraudster Christopher Morris, 48, is facing the music. Morris, formerly of Lowell and Chelsea, Massachusetts, was extradited from Brazil and arrived in Boston yesterday, finally answering to charges related to a brazen $2 million wire fraud scheme.

Morris made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley and was promptly detained. He was originally indicted in November 2014 on four counts of wire fraud and 12 counts of unlawful monetary transactions. Since 2013, Morris had been evading U.S. authorities while living in Uruguay and Brazil, enjoying a life allegedly funded by stolen money.

The indictment paints a picture of a calculated theft. As an accounting professional at PBS Distribution (PBSd) in Allston, Morris had access to incoming checks. Between January 2008 and September 2012, he systematically pilfered over $2 million in checks, endorsing them to himself instead of depositing them into PBSd’s accounts. He then allegedly covered his tracks by manipulating the company’s accounting system, issuing fraudulent credits to customers and altering the general ledger to hide the missing funds.

But Morris didn’t just hide the money – he flaunted it. The feds allege the stolen funds fueled a lavish lifestyle, including year-long rentals in New York City’s exclusive Greenwich Village and Tribeca neighborhoods. He also used the money for a down payment, purchase, and upkeep of a waterfront condominium in Chelsea, as well as luxury clothing, fine dining, and opulent travel, including a $16,000 two-week cruise to South America. It’s a far cry from honest accounting work.

If convicted, Morris faces a hefty sentence: up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine per count of wire fraud. Prosecutors plan to drop the unlawful monetary transaction charges under the Rule of Specialty, a legal principle governing extraditions. Sentencing will ultimately be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.

The takedown was a multi-agency effort, spearheaded by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, with key support from the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals, and the Boston Police Department. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Brazilian authorities were crucial in securing Morris’ extradition. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit, is leading the prosecution. It’s important to remember that the indictment contains allegations, and Morris is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.