Jibawi Family, Retail Financing Fraud, Virginia 2022

RICHMOND, Va. - In a shocking case of retail financing fraud, six individuals from the Jibawi family have been sentenced to a combined 31 years in prison for their roles in a scheme that saw over $2.8 million in losses for several retail financing providers.

According to court documents, between April 2017 and January 2022, Wael Jibawi, 28, of Palos Heights, Illinois; Mohammad Jibawi, 27, of Tinley Park, Illinois; Mahmoud Aljibawi, 40, of Oak Forest, Illinois; Alaelddin Aljibawi, 37, of Orland Park, Illinois; Jamel Eljebawe, 48, of Tinley Park, Illinois; and Yanal Khrisat, 28, of Burbank, Illinois, conspired to defraud at least six retail financing providers of at least $2.8 million.

The defendants opened and maintained several retail furniture stores in and around the Chicago area, which they used to establish merchant relationships with the targeted financing providers. These relationships enabled defendants to submit financing applications in the names of customers. Instead, the defendants submitted applications in the names of identity theft victims then used the approved accounts to charge the financing providers for purchases that did not actually occur. Over 1,000 identity theft victims have been identified to-date.

Defendant Wael Jibawi received a 132-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud, Accessing Protected Computer in Furtherance of Fraud, and Wire Fraud. Defendant Mohammad Jibawi received a 87-month sentence for the same charges. Defendant Mahmoud Aljibawi received a 58-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud, Accessing Protected Computer in Furtherance of Fraud, and Wire Fraud. Defendant Alaelddin Aljibawi received a 48-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud. Defendant Jamel Eljebawe received a 31-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud. Defendant Yanal Khrisat received a 21-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud, Accessing Protected Computer in Furtherance of Fraud, and Wire Fraud.

The sentencing was announced by Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Field Office; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin G. Cooke and Carla Jordan-Detamore prosecuted the case. Anyone who believes that they have been a victim of identity theft, or wants information about preventing identity theft, may obtain helpful information and complaint forms on various government websites including the Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Website, the Department of Justice’s Identity Theft Website, the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Prevention and Reporting Website, and the IRS’s Identity Theft Central.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the FBI Richmond Field Office are urging anyone with information about this case to come forward. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-141.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/six-co-conspirators-sentenced-over-28-m-retail-financing-fraud