FRAMINGHAM, JUNE 9, 2025 — Federal agents say a trio of MetroWest residents helped bleed the U.S. Treasury of millions by laundering stolen tax‑refund checks through shell companies and hometown banks.
The Framingham Three
| Defendant | Age | Alleged Haul | Fake Company | Bank(s) used | Case No. | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gurprit Singh | 34 | $2.55 M | Café H Inc. | Bank A (Shrewsbury, Worcester) & Bank B (Framingham) | 25‑mj‑7244‑JCB | In custody |
| Amarpreet Singh | 33 | $536 K | Beattie Roofing Inc. | Bank (Westborough & Shrewsbury) | 25‑mj‑7243‑JCB | At large |
| Domingo Villari | 49 | $1.29 M | Flipp Construction LLC | The Bank (Needham network) | 25‑mj‑7246‑JCB | In custody |
(Two non‑Framingham defendants also remain at large; five others were arrested Friday.)
How the scheme worked
- Create a paper front.
Each defendant incorporated a brand‑new Massachusetts company, named themselves sole officer, and opened business checking accounts.
• Café H Inc. was formed Oct 7 2023; accounts opened weeks later.
• Flipp Construction and Beattie Roofing followed the same playbook in early 2024. - Hijack the refund.
IRS investigators say legitimate Treasury checks destined for taxpayers in San Diego, Brooklyn, Germany, and the U.K. were physically intercepted and the payee line chemically “washed” or re‑printed to the shell company’s name. - Walk it into the bank.
Surveillance images show Gurprit Singh and Amarpreet Singh smiling at MetroWest tellers while depositing six‑figure checks bearing memos like “CAFÉ AUSTIN 12/2023 TAX REFUND.” - Move the money fast.
Once funds cleared, withdrawals, wires, and debit purchases shifted the cash beyond easy claw‑back. Bank fraud flags popped only after multiple deposits—by then millions were gone.
Why it (briefly) worked
- Paper checks + thin ID checks. The Treasury still mails refunds; altering payees hides the original taxpayer’s name.
- Small community branches. Deposits were spread across Worcester, Shrewsbury, Westborough, and Framingham—branches used to local tradesmen dropping big checks.
- IRS refund volume. Tens of millions of refunds move monthly; a handful rerouted checks doesn’t trigger instant alarms.
- COVID‑era staffing gaps. Bank compliance teams have cited pandemic turnover for slower manual screening of high‑value refund checks.
What they’re facing
- Theft of government funds (18 U.S.C. § 641): up to 10 years per count + $250K fine.
Gurprit Singh faces four counts; Amarpreet and Villari face one each. - Restitution & forfeiture: the Treasury will claw back every dollar traced, plus interest.
- Immigration exposure: all three are foreign‑born; a federal conviction can trigger removal proceedings.
- Enhanced sentences: if prosecutors add bank‑fraud or money‑laundering counts, penalties rise to 30 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil and Brian Sullivan told the court the investigation is “ongoing and expanding.” Initial appearances were held Friday; detention hearings are expected this week.
What’s next
- We’ll pull the full indictments first thing tomorrow and report any new allegations—especially how many checks passed through local branches and whether more Framingham names surface.
- Expect a federal grand‑jury indictment within 30 days; plea talks often follow quickly when surveillance video and altered checks are already in evidence.
Bottom line: Three Framingham entrepreneurs allegedly turned the IRS refund system into their personal ATM. If convicted, they won’t be building cafés, roofing houses, or flipping condos anytime soon—they’ll be flipping pages of the federal sentencing guidelines.