NAPERVILLE, IL — Federal charges have been filed against a Naperville man in connection with a United States Secret Service raid that took place at S and P Solutions in Lisle on Wednesday. Reza Mehraban, 75, of Naperville, was one of three men charged in the fraud investigation.
Also charged were his son, Sonny Meraban, 45, and William Suriano, 69, of Riverside. The trio has been accused of committing fraud with Bitcoin ATMs that were not licensed legally, a news release from the Secret Service said. A total of 52 illegal Bitcoin ATMs were seized in Ohio in connection with the investigation, per the Secret Service’s post.
Search warrants were also executed on Mehraban’s Naperville home and his son’s Miami residence.
The following charges were filed against Mehraban:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity
- One count of conspiracy
- Eight counts of money laundering
- Eight counts of receiving stolen property
- 33 counts of license requirement violation
- Five counts of tampering with records
- One count of possessing criminal tools
- One count of taxation
S and P Solutions faces the following charges:
- One count of engaging In a pattern Of corrupt activity
- One count of conspiracy
- Eight counts of money laundering
- Eight counts of receiving stolen property
- 33 counts of license requirement violation
- Five counts of tampering with records
- One count of possessing criminal tools
- One count of taxation
A string of individual charges were also filed against Meraban and Suriano.
Per the indictment, the S and P Solutions, which had been doing business of Bitcoin of America, collected cash from the Bitcoin ATMs and used it for business and personal expenses, in addition to buying more cryptocurrency.
“I would like to personally thank the United States Secret Service for their incredible hard work throughout the investigation of this case,” Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley said in a statement.
O’Malley added, “I would also like to thank the additional 28 agencies that worked alongside our office and the Secret Service. Without the assistance from each and every one of these law enforcement agencies, these individuals would be continuing to profit off of their illegal activities.”
