A FRAMINGHAM UNFILTERED EXCLUSIVE
FRAMINGHAM, JULY 29, 2025 —
Federal prosecutors have quietly escalated the case against Amarpreet Singh: late yesterday they filed a three‑count felony information (not an indictment) in U.S. District Court, Boston.
The new filing adds:
- Count 1 – Money‑laundering conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h))
- Count 2 – Theft of government funds (18 U.S.C. § 641)
- Count 3 – Bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344)
- Forfeiture demand: money judgment of $320 000 — the portion investigators say remains traceable to the scheme.
Because the government chose an information instead of waiting for a grand‑jury indictment, seasoned court‑watchers read this as a sign that Singh is negotiating a plea. The case has been assigned to Chief Judge Denise J. Casper under docket 1:25‑cr‑10322‑DJC. Singh remains free on the bond set June 9.
Scoreboard: where the Framingham defendants stand today
| Defendant | Alleged haul | Case No. & top charges | Key release conditions* | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gurprit Singh (34) | $2.55 M | 1:25‑mj‑07244‑JCB – complaint for theft of gov’t funds (4 cts) | $25 k unsecured bond; surrender passport; no contact with listed witnesses; no GPS noted in the release order | Out on bond; waiting on grand‑jury indictment |
| Amarpreet Singh (33) | $536 K | 1:25‑cr‑10322‑DJC – felony information for money‑laundering conspiracy, theft, bank fraud | $10 k unsecured bond; active GPS monitoring + nightly curfew; limited travel (MA–NY–NJ); passport surrendered | Out on bond; arraignment on the information expected in August |
| Domingo Villari (49) | $1.29 M | 1:25‑mj‑07246‑JCB – complaint for theft of gov’t funds (1 ct) | $20 k unsecured bond; no firearms; weekly check‑ins with Probation; no GPS, no curfew | Out on bond; indictment still pending |
* Summaries drawn from each defendant’s “Order Setting Conditions of Release” and the clerk’s notes from the June 6 & 9 initial‑appearance hearings.
What the new filing adds to the picture
- Conspiracy blueprint. Prosecutors lay out how Singh and an unnamed Co‑Conspirator 1 opened four business accounts (Banks A–D) in Beattie Roofing’s name, then shuttled forged U.S.‑Treasury checks and cashier’s checks among them to disguise the money’s origin.
- Paper trail of flips and withdrawals. The information details a string of cash pulls ($15 000, $10 000, etc.) and cashier’s‑check “laundering” across spring–summer 2024 — a level of granularity absent from the original complaint.
- Forfeiture leverage. By demanding $320 000 up front, the government signals it has already traced — and frozen — part of the take, raising the pressure to settle.
Why Singh may cut a deal first
- Speed: An information filed the day charges move to district court often means a signed plea is near; no grand jury, no superseding indictment delay.
- Exposure: The laundering count alone carries up to 20 years; bank‑fraud up to 30 years.
- Evidence stack: Surveillance footage of the May 7 2024 $526 214 deposit and a recorded phone call after the bank froze the account remain damning.
What’s next
- Change‑of‑plea hearing? If negotiations succeed, expect a Rule 11 hearing within weeks.
- Grand‑jury clock still ticking for Gurprit Singh and Domingo Villari — indictments are due by early July but could slide if plea talks expand.
- Restitution math: Treasury agents continue tracing funds; any plea will likely require full restitution and additional forfeiture beyond the $320 000 already claimed.
Bottom line: The alleged scheme to turn Treasury refund checks into a personal ATM just got a money‑laundering upgrade. Amarpreet Singh now faces a far stiffer sentencing range — and the surest path out may be cooperation.
ORIGINAL POST FROM JUNE 9 2025 BELOW
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.
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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.)
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How the scheme worked
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.”
4. 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.
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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.
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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.