Several Bangladeshi immigrants were arrested for their involvement in fraudulent real estate transactions. They are now out after posting a steep bond. According to reports from the Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown’s office, three Bangladeshis – Shamim Chowdhury, alias Sham (35); Golam Chowdhury, alias Jak (22); and Nazrul Islam – were arrested for their illicit sale and purchase of houses.

Other accomplices included Rajendhar, Boris Naktal, Daisy Guzman and John D. Amik, who were also arrested.

According to available information, Nazrul Islam, a resident of 167-10 Jamaica Avenue, was working as an employee in a grocery store located at 167-25 Hillside Avenue. He was arrested for issuing fake certificates to members of the group claiming they were employees at the store, for which he charged substantial fees.

Shamim Chowdhury, who lives at 108-12 Union Hall Street, claimed he was a real estate investor and created a false identity as Ujen Thomas, who died in 1986. It was alleged in the case that Chowdhury prepared the fake identity himself.

Golam Chowdhury, Shamim’s cousin, who resides at 252 Pacific Avenue, Laurence City, claimed to be the proprietor of Famous R.E. Construction and Development Inc., at 106-09 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. and Jamaica Avenue, Queens, and worked as a broker buying and selling houses.

Citing the case, the District Attorney’s office informed that the group was active in buying and selling a house located in Jamaica, Queens, which belonged to a 74-year widow, Dorothy, who had gone back to Bangladesh. They stole her Social Security number and other documents to do their transactions. In October 2007, Dorothy received a letter informing her that the house was up for auction in connection with loan. She was surprised and puzzled by the unexpected notice, because she had not taken out a loan from any bank or financial organization.

The woman sought out help from the courts and an investigation was launched in November 2007. The investigation found that the criminal activity of the group included the buying and selling of three houses in Richmond Hill, Union Hall and Shafer Street, Brooklyn for which they drew $1.8 million from J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo.

The group is accused of forgery, possession of stolen properties and instruments to commit forgery, among them identity cards, falsified documents, and smuggling money.

The arrestees appeared at the Queens Supreme Court before Judge Michel Elias.