FBI Sets Reward for US Department of Defense Fraud Suspect Onur Şimşek

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a reward of $150,000 for information leading to the capture and conviction of Turkish citizen Onur Şimşek for his alleged involvement in a defense procurement fraud scheme targeting the US Department of Defense.

Şimşek was added to the FBI's newly created "Most Wanted Scammers" list, which includes people accused of defrauding the American people.

Between April 2019 and February 2022, Şimşek and other individuals allegedly used a Florida company as a front to obtain contracts for the supply of critical military components.

"Although the company claimed to be an approved and qualified U.S. manufacturer, the components in question were actually manufactured in Türkiye. These parts were then shipped to the United States and repackaged to appear to comply with U.S. manufacturing requirements and product specifications," the FBI site states.

Accordingly, on October 25, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a federal arrest warrant for Şimşek.

The accusations against Şimşek are as follows:

“Conspiracy to defraud the United States government, Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Conspiracy to commit money laundering, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit export control violations, Violating the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, Violating the Arms Export Control Act.”