Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Crime News

Daytona Beach Man Arrested for Fraud, Money Laundering

A Daytona Beach man was arrested for money laundering and identity fraud involving construction companies.

According to an official statement from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)., Taufiq Mohammed Kailani was charged with organized fraud, fraudulent use of personal identification information for personal gain and money laundering.

FDLE”s investigation began in December 2020 when FDLE and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office were contacted by a Big Bend construction company and a Sebring construction company after they each received suspicious emails concerning their businesses. The companies were working on a construction project together.

An analysis of the suspicious emails confirmed that one of the company’s email accounts was hacked. (Story Continues Below Ad)

The investigation revealed that Kailani, pretending to be an employee of the Big Bend company, used a business email imposter scam to trick the Sebring company into wiring $60,725 to a fraudulent bank account. To make his scheme appear legitimate, he also attached a counterfeit bank letter to the fraudulent email.

The fraudulent account was opened by an elderly victim Kailani befriended through a romance scam, who unwittingly helped him perpetrate his crimes. After the Sebring company wired the money, Kailani directed the elderly victim to withdraw the money and send it to him.

The investigation was conducted by the FDLE Sebring Field Office with assistance from the FDLE Tallahassee Regional Operations Center, the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

Kailani was arrested on an FDLE warrant on March 16 by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into the Volusia County Jail on a $1,500,000 bond. The case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

Visit FDLE’s SecureFlorida.org for information and tips to help keep yourself, your family and your business safe from scams.

Archives

Related Stories

Political News

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is accusing the U.S. Department of Justice of impeding the state’s investigation of Ryan Wesley Routh, a potential assassin...

Environment

Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission (FWC) Executive Director...

Crime News

During a press conference in Winter Haven, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recapped the state’s progress against criminals distributing fentanyl across the state. Below is...