Four Massachusetts Men Arrested and Charged for Fraud, Money Laundering Schemes

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept. 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:

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Four Massachusetts Men Arrested and Charged for Fraud, Money Laundering Schemes

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BOSTON - Four individuals have been indicted as part of ongoing investigations into the theft and fraudulent deposit of more than $12.2 million in stolen U.S. Treasury checks and more than $1 million in other frauds targeting federally insured banks and credit unions and their customers.

The following defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count each of bank fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

1\. David Obeng, 24, of Dedham;

2\. Lynley Joseph, 26, of Brockton;

3\. Lindsley Georges, 33, of Everett; and

4\. Shaunsayh Addo, 33, of Leominster.

A second indictment also charged Obeng with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, five counts of bank fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft.

All four defendants were arrested this morning. Following initial appearances in federal court in Boston, Joseph and Addo were released on conditions and Obeng and Georges remain detained pending hearings to be scheduled at a later date.

According to court records, Georges was previously convicted of money laundering in the District of Massachusetts in January 2022. Georges was serving a term of federal supervised release at the time of his alleged participation in the conspiracies charged in the indictment.

"United States Treasury checks belong to the American people. Defendants who steal and deposit them, like the defendants charged today, steal from all of us," said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. "Fraudsters who saddle banks, credit unions, and their customers with million-dollar losses harm consumers too. My office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to pursuing justice for victims of financial scams, and we will hold accountable those who attempt to prey on the public's money and American financial institutions."

"Today's indictment of these four individuals is a major step in bringing justice for all those impacted by this self-serving crime," said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. "For too long, organized criminal elements have preyed on the American public. These individuals thought that they were untouchable, operating with impunity, as they stole treasury checks intended for hard working taxpayers. IRS-CI is committed to finding defendants involved in fraud and bringing them to justice."

"Today, we arrested four men for their alleged roles in a years-long, sprawling fraud ring that not only defrauded multiple banks and credit unions out of millions of dollars, but dragged dozens of innocent victims into their scheme. These men apparently thought they found an easy way to score some fast cash, but they couldn't have been more wrong. Fraud is never the answer if you feel your paycheck isn't up to par," said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Division. "The FBI will investigate anyone engaged in this sort of alleged criminal behavior. To those thinking about following in their footsteps: get ready to learn the same lesson, courtesy of the FBI and our law enforcement partners."

"The arrests made today highlight the broad reach of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service when it comes to dismantling complex financial crimes. This investigation showcases the results that postal inspectors strive to achieve in collaboration with our law enforcement partners. We remain steadfast in our mission of protecting the integrity of the U.S. Mail and all customers who use it," said Justin Page, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.

According to the first indictment, the defendants allegedly coordinated the theft and deposit of United States Treasury checks, totaling at least $12.2 million between 2023 and 2026. As alleged, each of the U.S. Treasury checks was issued to a true payee but had been altered to be payable to shell companies the defendants controlled. Each defendant allegedly directed the deposit of fraudulent checks at banks or credit unions in and around Metro Boston in exchange for a cut of the proceeds of those deposits. Following the initial fraudulent deposits, the defendants allegedly conducted and caused others to conduct financial transactions to conceal the origin of the stolen funds, including, among other things, the purchase and deposit of cashier's checks, the purchase of $310,000 in luxury watches and a $425,000 real estate loan secured by property in Nantucket, Mass.

Eight other individuals in June 2025 and one other individual in June 2026 were charged with the theft of government funds or bank fraud in connection with the deposit of the same stolen Treasury checks.

According to the second indictment, Obeng and others allegedly obtained unauthorized electronic access to victims' bank and retirement accounts, including through sending texts that were made to appear to be from the victims' banks seeking to confirm a recent purchase and by posing as bank representatives in calls with victims. In the calls, conspirators allegedly posed as fraud investigators and persuaded victims to provide codes needed to authorize withdrawals from their accounts under the guise of verifying their identities. Obeng and others allegedly used this access to transfer funds from victim accounts to accounts Obeng and his coconspirators controlled. The indictment also alleges that Obeng and others recruited individuals to go into bank branches and pose as customers, open accounts, transfer or deposit fraud proceeds into these accounts and then withdraw the funds in cash.

The charges of bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of money laundering and money laundering conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for sentence of no less than two-years in prison to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. Attorney Foley; IRS SAC Demeo; FBI SAC Docks; and Acting USPIS IIC Page made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Kearney and Seth B. Kosto of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the cases.

On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.

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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/four-massachusetts-men-arrested-and-charged-fraud-money-laundering-schemes

(TNSmrp)