CONCORD – Imran Alrai, 51, of Windham, was sentenced on April 25 to three years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering that resulted in $6.7 million being taken from the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.

Following his prison sentence, Alrai will be on supervised release for one year and will be required to pay $2.3 million in restitution.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Alrai, former owner of DigitalNet Technology Solutions, Inc., was contracted by the United Way to provide information technology services. When he was hired, Alrai failed to disclose that he owned DigitalNet, which was established as a shell company. According to Bankrate.com, shell companies can be used to “evade taxes, launder money and hide the identities of their owners.”

From 2012 to 2018, Alrai deliberately overcharged the United Way and received approximately $6.7 million for IT services supposedly provided by DigitalNet.

“For six years, the defendant carried out a calculated and sophisticated scheme to steal millions from a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting our most vulnerable communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “He exploited the organization’s trust, fabricating companies, employees, and invoices – all to line his own pockets at the expense of those the non-profit was meant to serve.”

In February 2013, Alrai manipulated the bidding process for a three-year IT contract to ensure that DigitalNet would be selected. This was done by providing the United Way with false references and false information about the company.

“Imran Alrai treated the United Way of Massachusetts and Merrimack Valley like his very own ATM, stealing millions of dollars and shortchanging their efforts and the community in the process,” said James Crowley, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “To anyone else engaged in a scheme like this, know that the FBI will work to shut you down and ensure you are held accountable for your actions.”

Alrai went on to become the United Way’s vice president of IT and received a yearly salary of $179,000. In that position, he directed a considerable number of jobs to DigitalNet. As a result, the company became the United Way’s second-largest outside vendor, receiving $1.1 million per annum.

Alrai continued to conceal his ownership of DigitalNet and “routinely sent emails with attached invoices from a fictitious person to himself at United Way.” However, his secrecy tactics finally failed in June 2018 when United Way officials discovered years of fraudulent activities. Alrai was subsequently terminated and reported to federal authorities.

While searching Alrai’s home, federal agents seized a number of incriminating documents and approximately $2.2 million in fraudulent deposits to bank and investment accounts. Agents also discovered that between November 2013 and May 2018, Alrai wired $1.2 million to a DigitalNet bank account in Lahore, Pakistan.

In December 2019, Alrai was convicted of 44 counts of wire fraud, money laundering and transportation of stolen property. However, he was granted a new trial in September 2021 after the court determined that the prosecution “failed to disclose evidence.”

Following his second trial in October 2024, Alrai was convicted of 12 counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering.

“Alrai used his technical expertise to craft an elaborate fraud scheme that went undetected for years, allowing him to siphon millions to fulfill his own greed,” said Michael Krol, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations New England. “He’s finally facing the consequences of his crimes — a long term in federal prison.”