Feds say Creve Coeur locksmith part of national scam
St. Louis - Three employees of a Florida locksmith company federal charges after being accused of involvement in a nationwide conspiracy to overcharge customers and illegally send those profits back to the company.
Eliyahu “Eli” Barhanun, 29, of Creve Coeur, was charged in federal court in St. Louis last week with conspiracy and structuring financial transactions to avoid federal reporting requirements. Two Florida men also employed by Dependable Locksmith have also been charged, prosecutors said Wednesday, when the charging documents were unsealed.
A court affidavit by filed by Agent John Jackman of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service says that locksmiths send the company’s cut of their earnings back by buying multiple money orders in amounts small enough to avoid filling out reporting forms. Employees are trained to overcharge customers, then threaten them with arrest or other sanctions if they complain, Jackman wrote.
The “majority” of the roughly 100 Dependable locksmiths are from Israel and are not authorized to work in the U.S., Jackman wrote.
Postal Inspectors are asking those who suspect they may be victims of Dependable to call 314-539-9441.
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Good job Mr. Jackman the ADL will be on your case now, but the America people appreciate the hard work of the men and the women at the USPS. The best government agency hands down. God Save the Republic.
Oh, I have to disagree with you on the USPS being the best US agency. I’d cast my vote for the U.S. Marshal’s Service, which is the nations oldest law enforcement agency it the United States. Founded by President Washington, the U.S. Marshals Service has as it official ensigna the only copywrited law enforcement ensigna in the country. They are charged with apprehending the most dangerous and violent criminals who are wanted and at large. Hardly anyone they’re seeking isn’t considered “Armed and Dangerous.”
I am a little biased in this analogy though as I happen to know the head of the Southern Illinois District Marshals Service in East St. Louis, United States Marshal Don Zlazinik. That does not however lessen any appreciation anyone should have for these men and women tasked with perhaps the most dangerous of law enforcement jobs to be found anywhere. Everyday they’re asked to apprehend violent, dangerous and most mentally deranged, criminals. What a life!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get your reporting straight!!!!
These are NOT locksmiths! Why is it so hard to tell it like it is? This is an illegal scam being conducted by criminals from Israel! They are not even close to being locksmiths.
This is “mob” related, complete money laundering scheme and yet you all in the media are afraid to say it like it is. This activity has been going on for years and the Yellow Pages are directly responsible or at least participating. Why haven’t you investigated them?
Try it, you might find something even bigger.
It has been going on for a long time and there has been several direct leads to what was going on from several sources and yet the media is afraid to strike at the heart of the matter.
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