A man from Ravenna, Ohio, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that defrauded the U.S. government of more than $1.2 million in pandemic relief funds. Mustafa Ayoub Diab, 42, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., following his conviction on multiple charges including theft of government funds, bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy.
Diab was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after his prison term and must pay $1,213,860 in restitution. The sentencing took place on December 1.
According to court documents, Diab owned a tax return preparation business in Akron with co-conspirator Elizabeth Lorraine Robinson. From June 2020 to August 2021, he submitted fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment benefits and small business assistance on behalf of many clients without their knowledge. He misrepresented their employment status and claimed they were small business owners to obtain funds through programs such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and the Paycheck Protection Program.
The funds were deposited into bank accounts opened and controlled by Diab without the clients’ consent. He then withdrew the money for personal use, including buying real estate and cars and taking international trips. Evidence at trial showed that nearly 80 victims’ names were used in these fraudulent applications.
Co-defendant Robinson pleaded guilty earlier to her role in the conspiracy. She was sentenced to nine months in prison with three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $183,450 in restitution jointly with Diab.
The FBI Akron Field Office conducted the investigation leading up to the indictment. Assistant United States Attorneys Vanessa V. Healy and Brenna L. Fasko prosecuted the case.
