MIAMI, Fla. (CBS12) — A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted two Guyanese nationals, including a recent presidential candidate, in connection with a sweeping tax evasion and money laundering scheme that allegedly cost the Government of Guyana approximately $50 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced on Nov. 28 that Azruddin Mohamed, 38, and his father, Nazar Mohamed, 72, owners of Mohamed’s Enterprise — a major gold wholesaler and exporter — are accused of orchestrating a multi-year plan to avoid paying millions in taxes and royalties through fraudulent gold export practices.
Court documents allege that from 2017 through 2024, the Mohameds concealed the true quantity and value of gold exported from Guyana. The indictment claims they paid taxes on one shipment to obtain official government seals, then reused those seals on subsequent shipments to evade additional duties. Authorities say the pair also shipped empty boxes bearing Guyanese government seals from Dubai through Miami to Guyana and bribed customs officials to facilitate the scheme…