Special to the Gazette
A Boston man was recently sentenced in federal court in Boston in connection with making false statements on a loan application.
Alexander Grinis, 47, of Jamaica Plain, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to nine months in prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $91,403.
In May 2019, Grinis pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements on loan applications. In June 2018, Grinis was arrested and charged with co-defendant Igor Moiseev, 59, of Newton, who previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Grinis was the manager of Eastern Bank in Auburndale. His responsibilities included assisting customers with opening and closing accounts and applying for loans and lines of credit. In approximately February 2015, Grinis assisted Moiseev in opening a checking and savings accounts at Eastern Bank with the license and Social Security card of another individual, without the knowledge or consent of that person. Later that year, Grinis assisted Moiseev in adding the individual to a business account in the name of TFC Enterprises, LLC. Thereafter, Moiseev forged the individual’s name on applications for two purported business loans. On each loan application, Grinis falsely certified that he had complied with all bank procedures and, as a result, the loans were approved. The proceeds of the two loans were subsequently distributed to the business checking account and Moiseev forged the individual’s name on checks and withdrew money from the account to pay for his own personal expenses. In addition, Moiseev, with Grinis’ assistance, caused proceeds from the business checking account to be wire transferred to Russia, Canada, and elsewhere overseas using the individual’s name. Both loans defaulted and were never paid back to Eastern Bank, resulting in a loss of over $90,000.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.