Paul Maucha, 58, is a citizen of Kenya and a resident of Washington, D.C., United States. Melisa Shapiro, 65, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA is accused of being his co-conspirator in a scheme.
Maucha and Shapiro controlled a shell company called American Eagle Services Group Inc. (AESG). Through the company, they allegedly engaged in a scheme to make numerous misrepresentations to victims about the company, its assets and its access to money and capital.
Maucha promised individuals seeking loans that AESG would provide them with these loans so long as they first provided the company with an advanced fee while misrepresenting the purpose of that fee. The individuals were told that if the company did not fund the loan, the advance fees could be refunded.
At the time the lending agreements were executed, Maucha and Shapiro knew AESG did not have the capital to make the loans. They were splitting the fees between themselves and spending them so refunds to their victims could not be assured.
Maucha and Shapiro were each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property and three counts of wire fraud. On May 12, 2021, he was arrested but ordered released to the supervision of the pretrial services agency on personal recognizance.
On May 15, 2021, Maucha was interviewed by a pretrial services officer. He told the officer he was a U.S. citizen and a native of New York, USA, which were both false.
On February 2, 2024, a federal jury in Washington, D.C. convicted him of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud.
On May 16, 2024, Maucha will be sentenced. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the conspiracy and wire fraud counts and 10 years in prison for the other charge.
CONAN Daily 