Brockton Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Defrauding Takeda Pharmaceutical of $2.3 Million

Key Details of the Fraud Scheme

• The Players:
  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.
• The Sham Company:
  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.
• Fabricated Invoices:
  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.
• Misuse of Funds:
  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.

Timeline of Events

• February 2022: Montronde and Bhambi incorporated Evoluzione Consulting LLC and created a fake website to lend credibility to the sham company.
• March-May 2022: The couple submitted five fraudulent invoices to Takeda, totaling $2.3 million, for services never rendered.
• January 2023: Montronde and Bhambi were arrested and charged with wire fraud. A federal grand jury indicted them later that month.
• December 2024: Montronde was convicted of three counts of wire fraud by a federal jury in Boston. He was acquitted of one count of wire fraud conspiracy.
• June 2024: Bhambi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud.
• October 2024: Bhambi was sentenced to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,585,480 in restitution.
• December 2024: Montronde was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution.

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.

Conclusion

The sentencing of Samuel N. Montronde and Priya Bhambi marks the culmination of a high-profile case that exposed a bold and calculated fraud against a major pharmaceutical company. The couple’s scheme, which involved creating a fake consulting company, submitting fabricated invoices, and inventing fictional employees, netted them $2.3 million in illicit gains. Their lavish spending on luxury items and real estate ultimately led to their downfall, as the court ordered the forfeiture of these assets.

This case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of corporate fraud and the importance of vigilance in detecting and preventing such schemes. It also highlights the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and corporate entities in bringing white-collar criminals to justice.