Ashburn resident Amit Chaudhry, 44, has admitted to masterminding a sprawling international identity theft and money laundering conspiracy that siphoned over $25 million through stolen credit cards, shell companies, and fraudulent travel scams. Chaudhry pleaded guilty in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, to two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Court documents reveal Chaudhry, an Indian national turned U.S. citizen in 2005, began the criminal enterprise in 2011. Operating across the U.S., India, and Europe, the syndicate relied on specialized cells: one to harvest personal data, another to intercept credit card details—often from American Express holders—and a third to process fraudulent transactions. Chaudhry’s role was central: laundering millions through hundreds of fake bank accounts tied to shell companies that existed only on paper.
The scheme extended to travel fraud, where victims were lured by fake websites promising cheap airline tickets and hotel stays. Chaudhry helped promote these fronts through mass email campaigns. Reservations were booked using stolen credit cards—then canceled when the cards were flagged. Meanwhile, victims’ payments were funneled through accounts controlled by Chaudhry and his co-conspirators. More than 1,000 people were duped in this elaborate scam.
Separately, Chaudhry partnered with Jacqueline Green-Morris, a former employee at Virginia-based contractor ActioNet, to execute a $4.1 million billing fraud. Between 2012 and June 2016, Chaudhry submitted falsified invoices for IT training services. Green-Morris approved the payments using her position at the company, and the pair split the illicit proceeds. She has already pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy.
Chaudhry also orchestrated a years-long H-1B visa fraud operation through companies he controlled—Networkxchange, Technologyxchange, Secure Networks, and the Knowledge Center. False applications were filed with the Department of Labor and USCIS, some bearing the forged signature of CNN journalist John King. The scheme enabled the illegal entry and employment of foreign workers under fraudulent pretenses.
Chaudhry now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, to be handed down on January 19, 2017. While the statutory maximum is set by Congress, the actual sentence will be determined by the court using advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. The case was prosecuted by Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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