2 Malden Men Face Federal Conspiracy Fraud Charges

BOSTON, MA — Two Malden men were charged Friday on federal charges for their alleged roles in what the Department of Justice called a "a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud their employer."

Lou Amaral, 52, was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of tax evasion.

Vence Pires, 58, was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to court documents, the two worked for the same unnamed facilities services company in the Greater Boston area. Amaral supervised the Special Services department, hiring employees and contracting with with third parties to provide temporary labor. Pires was an account manager who worked for Amaral in that department.

Amaral allegedly started taking bribes from a temporary labor company in order to steer contracts to that company. In 2014 he opened up his own temporary labor company, and Pires allegedly helped Amaral award himself the contracts. Amaral netted approximately $10 million in revenue over a three-year period, court documents said. It cost his employer more than $4 million.

Amaral has agreed to forfeit approximately $2 million that has been seized from him.

Both men face the potential of multi-year prison sentences.

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