Two Brothers Receive 20-Year Sentence for Fraud
A federal judge has handed down substantial sentences to two brothers from Ohio, who falsely presented themselves as Middle Eastern royalty while orchestrating multimillion-dollar fraud schemes. Zubair al-Zubair, 42, was sentenced to 24 years, while his brother Muzammil, 31, received a 23-year sentence. They were also ordered to pay $21 million in restitution. Their schemes notably involved some officials from the East Cleveland mayor’s office.
U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent did not hold back during the sentencing. “You stole a lot of money, you defrauded people, and you made East Cleveland look terrible,” he remarked. The brothers flaunted their lifestyle, driving a Rolls-Royce and flying in private jets.
Michael Smedley, the former Chief of Staff, provided crucial support for their fraudulent activities. He was involved in deceiving Chinese investors out of approximately $17.8 million by claiming ownership of a vacant industrial park.
Smedley received an eight-year prison sentence for his role.
Throughout their time in Ohio, the brothers crafted an image of extreme wealth, even going so far as to claim that Zubair was married to a UAE princess. Muzammil had also taken to presenting himself as a hedge fund manager, a persona he developed by watching YouTube videos.
The Internal Revenue Service noted that the al-Zubair brothers used their stolen gains to indulge in luxury. Their acquisitions included high-end jewelry, expensive cars, and even more than 80 firearms. Among these was a custom gold-plated AK-47-style rifle. Their lavish spending allowed for extravagant travel to places like Aspen, Miami, and London, often on private jets and with stays in luxurious hotels.
Between 2020 and 2023, the brothers executed multiple schemes aimed at defrauding victims through various means, such as investment fraud, fraudulent loans, and real estate scams. They also reportedly bribed Smedley with extravagant gifts, including tickets to Cleveland Browns games and high-end meals.
In exchange for his cooperation, Smedley helped them in their pursuit of state funding and provided them with official letters and badges from the East Cleveland police.
All three—Zubair, Muzammil, and Smedley—were found guilty of bribery conspiracy linked to federally funded programs, in addition to other fraud and money laundering charges. Zubair was also convicted for not filing a tax return, which isn’t exactly a minor oversight.
