Michigan Medical Provider Convicted of Aggravated Identity Theft

A federal jury convicted a Michigan businessman today of aggravated identity theft for placing the name and address of another man with the same name in legal documents to avoid a settlement payment of more than $6 million.

According to documents and evidence presented at trial, Hassan Kamal Fayad, of Dearborn, operated three medical practices and a transportation business. To fund business operations, Fayad sold outstanding medical and transportation invoices to a Texas-based investment firm. After Fayad failed to make appropriate payments to the Texas firm pursuant to their contracts, the Texas firm sued him in civil court for damages. Throughout the civil proceedings, Fayad caused the name and address of another Michigan resident who shared Fayad’s first and last name, but lived at a different address, to be placed on multiple legal documents, including on a settlement document which obligated Fayad to pay the Texas firm more than $6.3 million. Fayad’s use of the other Michigan resident’s name and address caused the garnishment of all funds from the other Michigan resident’s bank account.

A date for sentencing has not been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Mark McDonald and Christopher P. O’Donnell of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.