Man Who Conspired With Andover Lawyer Gets Prison Time

ANDOVER, MA — A Dominican national convicted of helping an Andover attorney launder more than 100 fraudulently-obtained tax refund checks was sentenced to 84 months in prison in U.S. Federal Court in Boston Wednesday. Francisco Oscar "Frank" Grullon, 52, was convicted of conspiracy, 15 counts of theft or conversion of United States property, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering after a six-day trial. Grullon, who was arrested in the Dominican Republic and extradited to the United States in 2018, was also ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution.

Grullon and R. David Cohen of Andover filed false tax returns and W-2 statements in the names of residents of Puerto Rico, where residents are not required to file federal income tax returns. The two then had refund checks sent to addresses in Lawrence, East Boston and New York. The two deposited close to $1 million into bank accounts.

Cohen was convicted in 2016 and sentenced to 4 1/2 years in federal prison.

Previously on Patch: Man Who Conspired With Andover Lawyer Convicted In Federal Court