Woman Sentenced for Role in Fake Debt Elimination Scheme

WETHERSFIELD, CT — A Wethersfield woman has been sentenced for her role in a fake debt elimination program, a leading prosecutor said.

John H. Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced on Monday that Urmilla Sri Thakir, also known as Urmila Buddhu-Thakur and Indro Buddhu-Thakur, 73, of Wethersfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to four years of probation, the first four months of which Thakur must serve in home confinement, for her role in a fraudulent debt elimination scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 to June 2012, Thakur’s former husband, Deowraj “Deo” Buddhu and their daughter, Sunita Buddhu, sold a debt elimination “program” to "vulnerable individuals" through various businesses, including entities called Paradise Consulting Service, Hema, Inc., and Secured Redemption.

In exchange for substantial fees, Deo Buddhu told victims about a "little-known government fund" that could be used to pay off their mortgages and other debts, Durham said.

In fact, no such fund exists, according to case records.

Buddhu instructed his victims to stop making payments on their mortgages, credit cards and other debts, and to stop paying their property taxes, according to case records. He also provided his victims with fictitious promissory notes, which he called “bonds,” as well as other frivolous documentation, and advised his victims to use them to pay their debts, Durham said.

On June 12, 2012, the day after Deo Buddhu’s arrest, Thakur withdrew $75,000 from a certificate of deposit account that contained funds from the scheme, Durham said.

She also obtained several cashier’s checks, including one for $50,000 made payable to herself, which she thereafter negotiated using accounts in the name of SDK SYS Solutions and TRK Consulting Services, Durham said.

Judge Thompson ordered Thakur to pay restitution of $335,072, which is the amount attributable to the underlying fraudulent debt elimination scheme, Durham said.

On Aug. 18, Thakur pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering.

Deo Buddhu and Sunita Buddhu were previously convicted in Hartford federal court.

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