A Florida man has been arrested for orchestrating a complex fraud scheme that manipulated the state’s annual alcohol license lottery. Rajiv Shashikant Shah, owner of Keshra Financial, LLC and #00001 Advanced Fingerprinting and Mobile Notary, is accused of defrauding the state of over $4.2 million.
Shah’s scheme involved submitting thousands of fraudulent entries over a three-year period to secure multiple winning licenses. He then sold these licenses to businesses at a significant premium.
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The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) investigated the fraudulent activity, uncovering a number of tactics used by Shah, including:
- Submitting identical fingerprints for multiple entries.
- Misusing Social Security Numbers on applications.
- Forging Power of Attorney forms.
These actions allowed Shah to gain control of licenses without the knowledge or consent of the actual winners.
The investigation was conducted in collaboration with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
Shah turned himself in to authorities on November 25, 2024.
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