US moves to seize Ed Ahmad’s properties
November 12, 2011 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News
Edul Ahmad
The United States of America, by and through Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Alexander A. Solomon and Claire S. Kedeshian, Assistant United States Attorneys, on October 31, last, signalled its intention to seize properties belonging to Edul Ahmad.
Ahmad is Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo’s close and personal friend who has been indicted in the United States for conspiracy to commit mail fraud as well as bank fraud.
The US prosecutors through official court documents filed on October 31, gave notice that it is seeking forfeiture of: a Money Judgment: a sum of money in United States currency in an amount to be determined at his sentencing.
They are also looking to have forfeited specific properties namely: “Real Property and Premises known as, 110-19 Atlantic Avenue, Jamaica, New York, identified on the Queens County Tax Map as Block: 9317; Lot 21, and title to which was held in the name of defendant Edul N. Ahmad, on or before May 1, 2011.”
Ahmad was a frequent visitor to Guyana and is known in the country as a friend of President Jagdeo, who has been in office since 1999.
In 2009, the Ahmad Group sent 29 tons of building supplies – including roof tiles and kitchen sinks – to Jagdeo at State House in Georgetown, according to shipping records.
Allegations of predatory lending, forged documentation, falsified mortgage information and missing records have dogged Ahmad for years.
US State officials have investigated the real estate broker five times since 2006, referring two of those probes to the Queens District Attorney’s Office for review, according to state Department of State records.
Another probe by the state Banking Department and Department of State in 2007 turned up home buyers who said they were given mortgages for more than they could afford and allegations that their names were forged on documents.
Last July Ahmad was arrested by FBI agents on mortgage fraud charges for allegedly bilking a lender, Countrywide Home Loans, in connection with the purchase of properties in Queens in 2007. At the time of his arrest, Ahmad was heading to Guyana.
Ahmad immigrated to the U.S. in 1983 and earned a bachelor’s degree from Baruch College in 1988.
He started his company, the Ahmad Group, in 1993, according to the company’s web site.
Among his diverse business interests are Century 21 Ahmad Realty, a mortgage brokerage and the Chateau Royale catering hall in Richmond Hill.
Ahmad’s real-estate licence was suspended for two months in 2008 after New York’s Department of State accused him of improperly sending a solicitation to a Queens couple on a cease-and-desist list that forbids real-estate agencies from asking for their business.
Ahmad following his arrest was adamant that he was never “dragged or taken” off any aircraft as was carried in the press but did admit to being met at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York by law enforcement officials and arrested.
He believes that he will be fully vindicated at the end of these proceedings despite the charges he faces.
Ahmad is presently on US$2.5M bail and was also subjected to electronic monitoring.
November 12, 2011 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News
Edul AhmadThe United States of America, by and through Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Alexander A. Solomon and Claire S. Kedeshian, Assistant United States Attorneys, on October 31, last, signalled its intention to seize properties belonging to Edul Ahmad.
Ahmad is Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo’s close and personal friend who has been indicted in the United States for conspiracy to commit mail fraud as well as bank fraud.
The US prosecutors through official court documents filed on October 31, gave notice that it is seeking forfeiture of: a Money Judgment: a sum of money in United States currency in an amount to be determined at his sentencing.
They are also looking to have forfeited specific properties namely: “Real Property and Premises known as, 110-19 Atlantic Avenue, Jamaica, New York, identified on the Queens County Tax Map as Block: 9317; Lot 21, and title to which was held in the name of defendant Edul N. Ahmad, on or before May 1, 2011.”
Ahmad was a frequent visitor to Guyana and is known in the country as a friend of President Jagdeo, who has been in office since 1999.
In 2009, the Ahmad Group sent 29 tons of building supplies – including roof tiles and kitchen sinks – to Jagdeo at State House in Georgetown, according to shipping records.
Allegations of predatory lending, forged documentation, falsified mortgage information and missing records have dogged Ahmad for years.
US State officials have investigated the real estate broker five times since 2006, referring two of those probes to the Queens District Attorney’s Office for review, according to state Department of State records.
Another probe by the state Banking Department and Department of State in 2007 turned up home buyers who said they were given mortgages for more than they could afford and allegations that their names were forged on documents.
Last July Ahmad was arrested by FBI agents on mortgage fraud charges for allegedly bilking a lender, Countrywide Home Loans, in connection with the purchase of properties in Queens in 2007. At the time of his arrest, Ahmad was heading to Guyana.
Ahmad immigrated to the U.S. in 1983 and earned a bachelor’s degree from Baruch College in 1988.
He started his company, the Ahmad Group, in 1993, according to the company’s web site.
Among his diverse business interests are Century 21 Ahmad Realty, a mortgage brokerage and the Chateau Royale catering hall in Richmond Hill.
Ahmad’s real-estate licence was suspended for two months in 2008 after New York’s Department of State accused him of improperly sending a solicitation to a Queens couple on a cease-and-desist list that forbids real-estate agencies from asking for their business.
Ahmad following his arrest was adamant that he was never “dragged or taken” off any aircraft as was carried in the press but did admit to being met at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York by law enforcement officials and arrested.
He believes that he will be fully vindicated at the end of these proceedings despite the charges he faces.
Ahmad is presently on US$2.5M bail and was also subjected to electronic monitoring.
