A brother and sister from New Jersey have been charged with running a multi-million-dollar fraudulent invoice scheme, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced today.
Shevandra Verasawmi, 37, of Matawan, and Vishallie Verasawmi, 36, of Green Brook, are charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and three counts of mail fraud.
Shevandra Verasawmi was arrested July 11, 2017, and appeared that afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Cayer in Charlotte, North Carolina, federal court.
Vishallie Verasawmi was arrested this morning and appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court. Both defendants, who are out on bail, will be arraigned before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court on July 19, 2017.
According to the indictment:
From April 2016 through August 2016, Shevandra and Vishallie Verasawmi defrauded an entity identified in the indictment as “Victim Company 1” into paying shell companies that were incorporated by Shevandra Verasawmi. Despite the fact that the shell companies never had contracts for goods or services with Victim Company 1, Vishallie Verasawmi used her position as an employee of Victim Company 1 to add the shell companies to Victim Company 1’s accounts payable system.
Shevandra and Vishallie Verasawmi then submitted dozens of fraudulent invoices to Victim Company 1 and ultimately deposited the fraud proceeds into bank accounts they controlled. In total, Shevandra and Vishallie Verasawmi attempted to divert millions of dollars belonging to Victim Company 1 and spent the proceeds on personal expenses, including luxury cars and credit card payments.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of Shevandra and Vishallie Verasawmi’ s alleged proceeds from the scheme, including $1,066,829.57 and a 2016 BMW 750Li xDrive sedan.
The mail fraud conspiracy and mail fraud counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.