Two Doctors Charged with Using a “Charity Organization” to Illegally Transfer Money to “Family Members and Friends” in Pakistan

Doctors charged with illegally transferring money to Pakistan

Associated Press – Via The Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE – A Florida Panhandle doctor and a New York doctor illegally transferred more than $800,000 from the United States to Pakistan, according to a federal grand jury indictment announced Thursday.

Dr. Muhammad Ishaq Zafar, 63, of Chipley, and Dr. Mohammed Tariq Randhawa, 64, of Hornell, N.Y., used a tax-exempt, charitable organization, Pak-American Islamic Cultural Corporation Inc., as an unlicensed money transmitting business, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The men used the organization to transfer funds for the benefit of family members and friends who contributed to the organization, the indictment said.

The men also were charged with filing false tax return forms on behalf of the organization.

The money contributed to the organization was disguised as charitable donations, and donors falsely claimed the money transfers as tax deductions, authorities said.

The men face a total of 10 separate counts. Randhawa was arrested in New York, but Zafar remains a fugitive. If convicted, Zafar could face up to 33 years in prison and $2.1 million in fines, and Randhawa could face up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines. It was not immediately known if either man had an attorney.

Oh, I’m pretty sure CAIR will be jumping on this one…

Chipley is located approximately 45 miles north of Panama City.

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