Leominster Man Accused of $1.3M Tax Refund Heist

BOSTON – Jesse El-Ghoul, 31, of Leominster, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly swindling the U.S. Treasury out of $1,355,863. A federal grand jury indicted El-Ghoul yesterday, accusing him of theft of government funds, bank fraud, and money laundering – a scheme built on a forged tax refund check and a network of shadowy shell companies.

According to court documents, El-Ghoul owned and operated Affordable Motor Group in Leominster, and was reportedly behind on taxes for the business. On March 29, 2024, he allegedly deposited a check for $1,344,863 into his business account. The problem? That check wasn’t meant for him. It was originally issued by the U.S. Treasury to a Canadian company based on its 2021 tax return, then illegally altered to make Affordable Motor Group the payee. It’s a brazen act of fraud, and investigators are now piecing together how El-Ghoul pulled it off.

The alleged scheme didn’t stop at the initial deposit. In the days that followed, El-Ghoul allegedly returned to the bank and purchased a series of cashier’s checks totaling $235,280, $223,591, $202,643, and $425,000. These weren’t legitimate business expenses. Instead, the checks were made payable to shell companies and a law firm, purportedly connected to a real estate deal in eastern Massachusetts. This move is classic money laundering – attempting to disguise the source of illegally obtained funds by making them appear legitimate.

El-Ghoul was initially arrested and charged by criminal complaint on June 6, 2025. Now, he’s facing a potential lengthy prison sentence if convicted. The charge of theft of government funds carries a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars, alongside three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The bank fraud charge is even more severe, with a potential 30-year sentence, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Each of the four money laundering counts carries a potential 20-year sentence.

The case is being spearheaded by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, with key investigative work conducted by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, is prosecuting the case. The government will need to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, but the evidence presented so far paints a damning picture of calculated fraud.

It’s crucial to remember that the details laid out in the charging documents are simply allegations at this point. El-Ghoul is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, if convicted, this case will serve as a stark reminder that stealing from the government – and attempting to cover it up – carries severe consequences. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any developments as they unfold.