In a sweeping international crackdown on financial crime, U.S. authorities have arrested five individuals — including a Nigerian national — allegedly tied to a vast fraud network accused of siphoning over €300 million from thousands of victims in Germany.
The arrests, executed by the U.S. Marshals Service in California’s Central District, were made at the request of the German government, which is now seeking the suspects’ extradition. The accused appeared before a federal court on Wednesday.
The suspects were identified as:
- Medhat Mourid, of Woodland Hills
- Andrew Garroni, of Los Angeles
- Guy Mizrachi, of Agoura Hills
- Ardeshir Akhavan, of Irvine
- Tunde Benak, also of Irvine
According to German prosecutors, the group orchestrated a sophisticated scheme involving millions of fraudulent debit and credit card transactions. These charges, typically under €50 to evade detection, were disguised as legitimate payments to fictitious merchants.
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To bolster the illusion, the network allegedly created fake websites accessible only via direct links or unique URLs. Investigators say the operation was further enabled by collusion with executives and compliance officers at German-based payment service providers, some of whom have also been detained.
Authorities claim the conspiracy effectively established a parallel “shadow financial system” within Germany, undermining regulatory safeguards and consumer protections.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that its Office of International Affairs collaborated closely with German law enforcement to coordinate the arrests and ensure compliance with extradition protocols.
The California arrests were part of a broader international operation that included simultaneous raids and detentions in Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Cyprus, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Singapore.
The development was jointly announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli, and U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta.
The case underscores the growing global cooperation in tackling transnational financial crimes and the increasing sophistication of fraud networks operating across borders.