Three Jordanian family members arrested in US on fraud charges

AMMAN — Three Jordanian nationals have been arrested in the US on federal fraud charges, one of whom is also charged in state district court with murder, according to the Southern District of Texas.

The district, which is affiliated with the US Attorney’s Office, said in a statement this weekend that a combined federal, state and local investigation has led to the arrest. 

Ali Mahmood-Awad Irsan, 57, a naturalised US citizen from Jordan and resident of Conroe, was arrested along with his wife, Shmou Ali Alrawabdeh, 37, also a Jordanian national, and daughter, Nadia Irsan, 30, a US citizen, according to the statement.

The father and his family members are charged federally with conspiracy to defraud the US, theft of public money and benefits fraud. The investigation also led to charges against Ali Irsan for murder in state district court, according to the district’s website.

The murder charge alleges the father intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Gelareh Bagherzadeh on January 15, 2012, by shooting her with a firearm, the statement said.

The charges in the federal criminal complaint allege the man and his wife falsified documents in order to receive social security disability benefits with the assistance of the daughter. 

The Irsan family allegedly secreted assets, such as real estate, vehicles and currency, which would make him and his wife ineligible to receive benefits, according to the statement.

The daughter, who lives with her father and is unemployed, allegedly maintained a bank account with more than $150,000 in cash for her father, which was separate from the social security benefits. 

The family also purchased several pieces of real estate and vehicles in cash, the statement indicated.

If convicted of any of the federal fraud charges, the three family members face up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine. If convicted of murder, the father also faces up to life in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to the district.