Chicago, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was joined today by Thomas P. Brady, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago, in announcing the arrest of a Streamwood, Illinois man on federal fraud charges. AHMET M. KESKES, age 38, of 105 Black Hill Drive in Streamwood, was arrested yesterday afternoon, without incident, by FBI Special Agents and U.S. Postal Inspectors. KESKES was taken into custody at 1542 Burgundy Parkway in the Northwest suburb, which is the location of his Internet-based business, Asena Corporation.
KESKES was charged in a criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of Mail Fraud, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, KESKES operated an Internet business, Shop Asena, from the Streamwood business address. The complaint charges that from at least April through August of this year, KESKES used the Shop Asena website, along with various e-commerce sites, to sell items well below normal retail price. The complaint further alleges that many of the items sold by KESKES were stolen, either from retail establishments or while in transit.
Items sold by KESKES, which are believed to have been stolen and re-sold through his website, include Victoria’s Secret perfumes and colognes; Callaway, Taylor Made and Ping golf clubs; Sylvania Halogen Headlights; and Innotech electronic dog collars.
While the complaint only charges KESKES with mail fraud for a short period during 2009, it also states that he has operated the online business and conducted Internet auctions since August of 2005, with online sales totaling in excess of $2 million.
KESKES appeared before Magistrate Judge Arlander Keyes in Chicago, late yesterday, at which time he was formally charged. KESKES was ordered held without bond, pending his next court appearance, which is scheduled for Friday, October 2nd at 2:00 p.m. Until then, KESKES will be housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago. If convicted of the charge filed against him, KESKES faces a possible sentence of up to twenty (20) years’ incarceration.
This matter was investigated jointly by the Chicago FBI and the U.S Postal Inspection Service, aided by the Streamwood Police Department, Limited Brands, and eBay. In announcing this arrest, Mr. Grant recognized the invaluable assistance provided by the merchant community in investigating this fraud scheme. Said Mr. Grant, “The partnership that law enforcement maintains with the business community is essential in detecting and successfully investigating complex fraud schemes, such as the one detailed in the criminal complaint filed this week.”
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: CHICAGO.FBI.GOV
