A woman who worked at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Massachusetts' largest biotech company, was sentenced to prison on Thursday for defrauding the company of at least $2.5 million, acting U.S.
Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy’s office announced. Priya Bhambi, 40, of Brookline, will serve 46 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
She must also pay $2,585,480 in restitution, forfeit a Mercedes-Benz, more than $1 million in proceeds from the fraud, a nearly-$50,000 wedding venue deposit, a diamond engagement ring and a condo in the Seaport. In June, Bhmabi pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She and a person prosecutors say acted as a co-conspirator were charged in March 2023.
Between January and October 2022, prosecutors say Bhambi and another person defrauded Takeda of at least $2.3 million for supposed consulting services by submitting fabricated invoices for a sham consulting company. Bhambi had engaged in a similar fraud in the past with a different sham consulting company, where she earned close to $300,000 for consulting services she didn‘t provide, according to Levy’s office.
In February 2022, the person prosecutors say acted as Bhambi’s co-conspirator incorporated Evoluzione Consulting, LLC. Bhambi created a website for the company to make it appear as a legitimate business. After incorporating the company, prosecutors say the pair submitted a statement of work to Takeda th.
