Melrose Man Arrested For Impersonating Federal Agent

BOSTON - A Melrose man was arrested and charged today in federal court with two counts of impersonating a federal agent.

Gjerji Pelushi, a/k/a "Gjergi Pelushi," a/k/a "George Pelushi," 28, was charged by criminal complaint and faces the maximum sentence under the statute of three years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to the affidavit, earlier this year agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed two victims who, like Pelushi, are originally from Albania and met Pelushi through common acquaintances. In separate interviews, both victims told agents that they had each paid thousands of dollars to Pelushi to assist them in obtaining a law enforcement job or in dealing with a law enforcement-related problem. For instance, one of the victims had a pending state court case which Pelushi promised to get dismissed. The victims paid for Pelushi’s help because he repeatedly told them he worked for the FBI or the Central Intelligence Agency.

During a four-month undercover operation agents recorded several telephone calls and meetings between Pelushi and the victims. According to the affidavit, on the recordings Pelushi repeatedly referred to himself as an FBI agent, confirmed he had taken thousands of dollars from both victims, and promised to use his connections as an agent to help them. In one meeting, Pelushi allegedly claimed to have patrolled this year’s Boston Marathon in plain clothes while armed and that “the Director” had told him and his fellow agents that if they “tell someone to stop and they reach for the bag, shoot them in the head!”

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Vincent Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by prosecutors in Ortiz’s Organized Crime Strike Force Unit.