CLEVELAND, OH – Three men from New York are facing federal charges after a brazen credit card fraud scheme that stretched across state lines, according to a statement released today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. The trio allegedly swiped more than 100 credit card accounts, racking up purchases and attempting to obtain goods and services from retail stores.
The indictment names Mohammad Parvez, age 23, of Brooklyn, New York; Fazly Azzam, age 22, also of Brooklyn; and Shaha Jalal, age 35, of New York, New York. All three are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit and committing credit card fraud. U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach announced the indictment, signaling a crackdown on interstate financial crime.
Investigators allege the scheme unfolded in August 2014. The defendants conspired to illegally obtain credit card account numbers. Details are scarce on *how* those numbers were acquired, but once in their possession, an unnamed accomplice electronically encoded them onto physical credit cards bearing the names of Parvez, Azzam, and Jalal. This allowed them to make purchases as if they were legitimate cardholders, investigators say.
The feds aren’t detailing exactly *what* was purchased with the fraudulent cards, only that the defendants “obtained and attempted to obtain property and services.” Sources close to the investigation suggest the purchases ranged from electronics to luxury goods, and that the total amount of fraudulent charges is still being tallied. Expect that number to climb as the case unfolds.
If convicted, the sentences for Parvez, Azzam, and Jalal will be determined by the court, taking into account their criminal histories (if any), their specific roles in the conspiracy, and the severity of the violations. The statutory maximum sentence remains undisclosed, but prosecutors assure the public that the sentence will be “less than the maximum” in most cases – a standard caveat that offers little comfort to victims.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer is prosecuting the case. It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is not a conviction. These men are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News