A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for orchestrating a sophisticated scheme to defraud Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) of 1.9 million condominium in Boston’s Seaport District. Montronde’s girlfriend, Priya Bhambi, a former senior employee at Takeda, was also implicated in the scheme and sentenced to 46 months in prison.
The case highlights a brazen conspiracy that exploited Bhambi’s insider position at Takeda to submit fabricated invoices and deceive the company into paying millions for nonexistent consulting services. The couple’s actions not only defrauded Takeda but also underscored vulnerabilities in corporate oversight. Below is a detailed account of the scheme, its execution, and the legal consequences.
Key Details of the Fraud Scheme
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The Players:
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The Sham Company:
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Fabricated Invoices:
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Misuse of Funds:
Samuel N. Montronde, a 39-year-old from Brockton, and Priya Bhambi, his girlfriend and a former senior employee in Takeda’s technology operations group, were the central figures in the scheme. Bhambi leveraged her position at Takeda to facilitate the fraud, while Montronde played a key role in setting up the sham consulting company and managing the illicit proceeds.
In February 2022, Montronde and Bhambi incorporated Evoluzione Consulting LLC, a fake consulting firm. Bhambi created a website for the company, complete with fabricated blog posts and false information, to give the appearance of legitimacy. The couple then submitted a statement of work to Takeda, leading to a master services agreement and a purchase order for consulting services totaling $3.542 million.
Between March and May 2022, Bhambi and Montronde submitted five fraudulent invoices to Takeda, each for $460,000, claiming payment for services that were never performed. To further the deception, they invented a fictional employee named “Jasmine” to handle communications with Takeda. Bhambi also made false representations to Takeda employees about the services allegedly provided by Evoluzione.
The 1.9 million luxury condo in Boston’s Seaport District. They also made a $50,000 deposit for a wedding venue. These assets are now subject to forfeiture as part of the court’s order.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie A. Wright and Mackenzie A. Queenin, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head handling the forfeiture of assets. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV presided over the sentencing. Montronde was ordered to pay 2,585,480, reflecting the total amount defrauded from Takeda, including her prior fraudulent activities.
Bhambi’s prior fraud, which involved a different sham consulting company, had already netted her nearly $300,000 from Takeda before the Evoluzione scheme. This history of fraudulent behavior likely contributed to her longer prison sentence compared to Montronde’s.
Impact on Takeda and Corporate Oversight
Takeda, a multinational pharmaceutical company, provided significant cooperation during the investigation, which was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Boston Division. The case highlights the importance of robust internal controls and oversight mechanisms to prevent insider fraud. While Takeda ultimately uncovered the scheme and terminated Bhambi, the incident underscores the potential risks posed by employees with access to sensitive financial systems.