Former Peoria Store Owner Convicted of Twenty-One Felonies After Being a Fugitive for Fifteen Years

PEORIA, Ill. - A federal jury returned a guilty verdict at approximately 9:00 pm on September 10, 2025, against Jalal Nimer Asad, 61, of Lindenhurst, Illinois, on twenty-one felony offenses for his role in separate but related conspiracies charged in two cases. In the first case, Asad was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the tax laws, six counts of tax evasion, and nine counts of mail fraud. In the second case, Asad was convicted of conspiracy to structure financial transactions and four counts of structuring financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements. Sentencing for Asad has been scheduled on January 8, 2026 at 10:00 am at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria, Illinois.

Over seven days of testimony, the government presented evidence establishing that Asad had been the leader of a group of individuals that owned and operated several convenience and liquor stores in the Central District of Illinois. During trial, the government established that Asad and his cohorts (all of whom had pleaded guilty or been convicted following trial over 15 years ago) kept two sets of books, a true set and a false set, in order to underreport their earnings and pay less state and federal taxes. The government also proved that Asad structured financial transactions to withdraw more than $4 million in cash without triggering the bank's reporting requirements.

A federal grand jury returned indictments against Asad and his co-defendants in 2009. While all the other defendants were convicted or pleaded guilty years ago, Asad remained at large overseas for 15 years until his recent return to the United States.

The Court allowed Asad to remain on bond pending sentencing. At sentencing, Asad faces statutory penalties of up to twenty years in prison.

The case investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and was carried out with the support of local law enforcement partners, including the Decatur Police Department. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller and Assistant United States Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government at trial.