Philadelphia Man Charged with Duping Gold Buyers
| U.S. Attorney’s Office August 12, 2013 |
Hashim Sharif, 39, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by information with one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme that, collectively, defrauded victims out of approximately $1 million, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.
Sharif, who also went by the name “Adam Ford,” operated a website (phoniexgoldllc.com) where he advertised gold and other precious metal products for sale. After receiving money from customers, Sharif did not send the purchased products and spent the money on luxury vehicles, real estate, and other goods.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Philadelphia Police Department, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Axelrod.
An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.