Alleged identity thief admits role in $1M fraud scheme
Saturday, June 23, 2007
By JEFF HARRELL
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Banks knew him as Munir Lohdi, a customer who borrowed more than $1 million against his Grant City residence and racked up debts on several credit cards.

By the time authorities learned he actually lived in Queens and was a member of a large identity theft ring, Fayyaz Ahmed had stolen more than $1.4 million.

Ahmed, 39, of Queens Boulevard, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of scheming to defraud, and one count each of identity theft, grand larceny, money laundering and forgery in a six-month scheme that netted a total of $1,404,422.

Originally charged under a 69-count grand jury indictment, the Pakistani national will spend one and one-half to four and one-half years behind bars under the agreement.

An immigration detainment order issued by Homeland Security guarantees Ahmed will be deported following his release from prison.

But sources say Ahmed played only a "bit part" in a large identity theft operation with criminal ties to Pakistan.

The scheme involved using fake identification such as counterfeit driver's licenses to secure mortgage loans and cashing bank-issued checks.

During the six months from Oct. 15, 2004 to April 15 the following year, Ahmed "falsely represented himself as Munir Lodhi" of the 100 block of Lincoln Avenue and "fraudulently obtained loans in excess of $1 million from five financial institutions," according to court documents.

Ahmed presented various forms of identification in Lodhi's name to Washington Mutual Bank, Wachovia, Citibank, MBNA America/Countrywide and Wells Fargo Bank, court records alleged.

In some instances, he used identification with his photograph and Lodhi's name, as well as a deed to the house on Lincoln Avenue, which was put up as collateral for each of the mortgage loans obtained.

Prosecutors from the state attorney general's office charged that Ahmed presented himself as Munir Lodhi when he met personally at the house with appraisers, loan closers and other bank officials.

Ahmed also submitted phony identification to obtain credit cards later used to buy cars, furniture and other items, prosecutors maintained, noting in court documents, "[Ahmed] never intended to pay for loans or credit cards."

Sources said Ahmed was nabbed and questioned extensively as part of a state attorney general's investigation into the Pakistani identity theft ring.

But attempts to entice him as a cooperating witness failed because he feared for his family's safety back in a Pakistan, a source said.

Assistant Attorney General David M. Szuchman prosecuted the case. Manhattan attorney Howard Simmons represented the defendant.

Ahmed is scheduled to return to state Supreme Court, St. George, on July 12, where he will be sentenced by Justice Stephen J. Rooney.

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