Dearborn Man, Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

A Dearborn resident and owner of multiple gas stations in southeast Michigan pleaded guilty Wednesday to bank fraud, United States Attorney Barbara McQuade announced Thursday.

Majed Tawbe, 43, was charged with using false tax returns to obtain more than $6 million in commercial loans from Fifth Third Bank and Comerica Bank. Between 2004 and 2006, according to the U.S. attorney's office, he used the funds to open several gas stations—including ones in Garden City and Westland.

Tawbe entered the guilty plea Wednesday in United States District Court before Judge David M. Lawson.

"This plea comes as the result of countless hours of hard work by the FBI and its law enforcement partners," FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Foley, who worked on the case, said in a statement. "The FBI is committed to stopping bank fraud in our communities."

Special Agent in Charge Giovanni Tiano added, “Let this conviction stand as an excellent example that the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, and our law enforcement partners are committed to aggressively pursuing anyone who would fraudulently manipulate our nation’s financial institutions for their own selfish interests.

"Loan fraud is a significant threat to our economy, as well as our national security, and will not be tolerated.”

Tawbe faces a sentence of up to 30 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million. A sentencing hearing is expected to be scheduled before Judge Lawson for 2013.