BOSTON – A former auto repair technician with the Boston Police Department (BPD) Fleet Management Division pleaded guilty yesterday in a scheme to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from BPD.

Bahram Gharony, 36, of Boston, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. Senior US District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock set the sentence for December 14, 2021. Gharony was charged on July 30, 2021.

“Sir. Gharony has embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars in auto parts and supplies from the Boston Police Department to the detriment of the public’s confidence in his honest colleagues and law enforcement workers,” the US Attorney said. Acting Nathaniel R. Mendell “Our office stands ready to prosecute those who abuse their positions and violate public trust for personal gain.”

“While working for the Fleet Management Division of the Boston Police Department, Bahram Gharony admitted he was also working for himself, organizing a fraudulent scheme that cost city taxpayers more than ‘a quarter of a million dollars. Mr. Gharony clearly knew what he was doing. was wrong because of the steps he took to cover up his criminal conduct, but his shared loyalty prevailed, “said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI division in Boston. Thank the Boston Police Department’s Anti-Corruption Unit for bringing this to our attention and ending this practice.

Gharony engaged in a scheme that allegedly defrauded BPD’s fleet management division of more than $ 260,000 in automotive parts, tools and supplies between June 2017 and September 2020. Gharony used his position to order parts and supplies which he claimed to be for BPD, but which were in fact converted and sold to others by Gharony. In an effort to cover up the scheme, Gharony submitted fraudulent and altered invoices to BPD for parts, tools and supplies he falsely claimed to have been ordered for the fleet. Additionally, Gharony claimed to have legally purchased the items through a discount offered to BPD when selling the items to others.

The wire fraud charges each carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $ 250,000, or double the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. . Sentences are imposed by a judge in a federal district court based on US sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting US Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston division; and Acting Boston Police Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistant US Attorney Neil J. Gallagher Jr. of Mendell’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit is pursuing the case.