You are reading

Astoria man pleads guilty to real estate fraud scheme that targeted Queens Bengali community: DA

Photo via Getty Images

March 28, 2023 By Bill Parry

An Astoria businessman is facing two decades in prison after admitting he targeted the Bengali community of Queens in a real estate scam that bilked them out of nearly a million dollars over three years.

Rashidun Bokhari, 57, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday to wire fraud from a purported real estate investment scheme. Bokhari was arrested last October and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen.

According to court filings, between September 2015 and April 2018, Bokhari induced the victim to invest approximately $935,000 in four different real estate properties located in Long Island City and Astoria. Bokhari falsely claimed that in exchange for his investment in the purported real estate transactions, the victim investor would receive a 50% ownership in the properties.

Additionally, Bokhari fabricated real estate transaction documents that he provided to the victim investor, according to court filings. After receiving almost $1 million, Bokhari misappropriated the money for his own personal use, including transferring funds overseas, making mortgage and life insurance payments and withdrawing cash from ATMs.

As part of his plea agreement, Bokhari has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $935,000 to the victim.

The government’s investigation also revealed that between December 20, 2020
and May 2022, Bokhari engaged in a separate scheme to defraud two additional victims in
Queens.

As part of his plea agreement, Bohkari has agreed to pay these two victims restitution
in the amount of $191,100. Each of Bokhari’s victims is of Bengali descent and he exploited their shared ethnic background in furtherance of his schemes.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said anyone who believes they are a victim of a crime committed by Bokhari is asked to contact his office here.

When sentenced, Bokhari faces up to 20 years in prison.

email the author: [email protected]
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Long Island man charged in fatal Flushing hit-and-run that left 81-year-old man dead: NYPD

A Long Island truck driver was arrested on Tuesday and booked at the 109th Precinct in Flushing for a fatal hit-and-run collision that killed a Murray Hill senior who was riding an electric bike on Northern Boulevard three months ago.

Kyle Schreiber, 27, of Lincoln Boulevard in Hauppauge, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in the death of 81-year-old Peter Seo on the morning of Thursday, Dec. 28.

MTA seizes 19 ‘ghost’ cars registered to toll violators at Queens Midtown Tunnel on Monday

Two days before the MTA Board approved the controversial congestion pricing plan for Manhattan on Wednesday, the agency cracked down on persistent toll violators at the Queens Midtown Tunnel in Long Island City.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels seized 19 vehicles registered to persistent scofflaws on Monday and issued 81 summonses and confiscated two fraudulent incense plates. The MTA noted that the scofflaws accounted for approximately $483,000 in combined unpaid tolls and fees. One of the top persistent toll violators from the targeted enforcement owed nearly $76,000 in tolls and fees.