Family Members Indicted
Four Potomac residents were indicted in federal court in connection with a money remitting business on Nov. 21.
Fatameh Talebnejad, 59, Abdol Talebnejad, 65, husband and wife and their sons, Farhad Talebnejad, 38 and Foad Talebnejad 34 have been charged with a three-count indictment involving conspiring to operate two money remitting businesses out of their home on West Kersey Lane.
Since Oct. 1, 2002, Maryland law states that it is a felony to operate a money remitting business without a license. Federal law requires that remitting businesses register with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
“There are legal money remitters,” said Marcy Murphy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office
If convicted, the Talebnejads could face five years in jail and a fine of $250,000 each for each of the three charges — potentially totaling $3 million for the family.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the family operated businesses known as Shirazi Money Exchange and Shirazi Arz. These businesses would advertise that they could transfer US currency to Iran and Iranian currency to the United States.
“[Iran] seems to be the primary country,” Murphy said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that the family made at least 150 transfers of money totaling approximately $18 million to foreign countries including Iran and the United Arab Emirates between October 2001 and December 2002.
The Talebnejads opened numerous bank accounts in the name of the two companies and would collect money to transfer to overseas accounts, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The family also operated the business without a license, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David I. Salem.
Residential Burglaries
* Between 12 and 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, a house on the 8800 block of Tuckerman Lane was broken into. Suspects entered through the garage and took musical equipment.
* Between 12 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 15, a house on the 13800 block of Mustang Hill Lane in North Potomac was broken into. The front window was pried. Nothing was taken.
Aggravated Assault
At 1:45 p.m. on Nov. 14, the Gap store in Montgomery Mall was the scene of an attempted theft of clothing, say Montgomery County Police. A store employee observed a Hispanic male loading sweaters into a bag held by another male suspect.
When the clerk yelled, the suspects dropped the bag and fled the store with a female suspect, who police allege was standing guard. The victim chased them to the parking lot where the suspects attempted to hit her with their blue van, with New York license plates, say police.
Donations Sought
Residents who would like to help people in need during the holiday season may donate food and food store gift certificates to the Holiday Gift Giving Project of Montgomery County. To donate, call 240-777-2600.