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Banking on Deceit: Annamalai Annamalai Sentenced to 27 Years for Bank, Tax, and Obstruction Charges
Annamalai Annamalai, a/k/a Dr. Commander Selvam, a/k/a Swamiji Sri Selvam Siddhar, the former leader of the now defunct Hindu Temple of Georgia, has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison following his conviction on 34 felony counts, including bank fraud, tax fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and obstruction charges.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Horn, Annamalai used the Hindu Temple as a vehicle for greed and personal profit, convincing his victims that they had a problem in need of spiritual guidance and then taking advantage of their vulnerabilities for personal financial gain.
‘Annamalai perverted the sacred institution of religion by using it as a vehicle for greed and personal profit,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Horn. ‘He convinced his victims that they had a problem in need of spiritual guidance, and then took advantage of their vulnerabilities for personal financial gain.’
Annamalai, a self-proclaimed “child prodigy” and “priest”, received his fate today for the fraud that he perpetrated on the faithful followers that believed in him, stated Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation.
The indictment and other information presented in court revealed that Annamalai generated income through the Hindu Temple by charging fees to his followers in exchange for providing spiritual or related services. In a typical transaction, a follower agreed to purchase a particular service for a communicated price, and provided a credit card number by telephone to guarantee payment.
However, Annamalai caused the followers’ credit card numbers to be charged on multiple occasions, in excess of their agreed amount and without authorization. If the followers disputed the charges with their respective credit card companies, Annamalai submitted false documentation to the credit card companies in support of the unauthorized charges.
Annamalai later filed spurious lawsuits against followers who disputed his charges and manipulated audio recordings to make it sound as if the followers had agreed to the disputed charges. Annamalai caused these manipulated audio recordings to be submitted to police departments investigating criminal complaints that were lodged against him.
The income generated by the Hindu Temple through these credit card charges was used to fund the personal lifestyle of Annamalai and his family, who owned or controlled numerous homes and real properties, luxury vehicles, and foreign bank accounts in India.
Annamalai was also convicted of bankruptcy fraud offenses in connection with the Hindu Temple’s petition for bankruptcy protection in August 2009. He concealed assets from creditors and others by diverting credit card receipts and donations intended for the Hindu Temple to a bank account in the name of a different entity.
Annamalai was also convicted of money laundering for using proceeds from the bankruptcy fraud to pay mortgages on properties that he owned, and payments to himself. In addition, Annamalai was convicted on three counts of obstruction and false statements in connection with the grand jury investigation and the bankruptcy proceeding.
Annamalai, 49, of Baytown, Texas, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison following his conviction on 34 felony counts.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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