Two Brothers and a Public Official Sentenced to a Collective 55 Years in Prison for Fraud and Bribery Conspiracy

CLEVELAND - Two brothers, and a public official they befriended, have been sentenced to prison for their roles to carry out schemes to obtain millions of dollars from victims. A federal jury previously convicted the three men for their roles in a multi-layered, elaborate bribery and fraud conspiracy that spanned multiple states and countries.

In January, after a more than two-week-long trial that included 35 witnesses and 324 exhibits admitted as evidence, Zubair Al Zubair, aka Zubair Mehmet Abdur Razzaq, 43, recently of Bratenahl, Ohio; his brother Muzzamil Al Zubair, aka Muzzamil Ibn Muhammad, 33, recently of Pepper Pike, Ohio; and their associate Michael Leon Smedley, 57, of Cleveland, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and Hobbs Act conspiracy. The Al Zubair brothers were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, several counts of money laundering, theft of government funds, and aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Zubair Al Zubair was also found guilty of willful failure to file tax returns. Judge Donald C. Nugent imposed the following sentences May 5:

• Zubair Al Zubair, 288 months (24 years) in prison; three years supervised release after imprisonment.
• Muzzammil Al Zubair, 276 months (23 years) in prison; three years supervised release after imprisonment.
• Michael Smedley, 97 months (8.08 years) in prison; three years supervised release after imprisonment.

Zubair and Muzzammil Al Zubair were also ordered to pay $19,202,017.98 in joint and several restitutions to victims. Furthermore, Zubair was ordered to pay $1,751,643.20 in unpaid taxes and interest in restitution to the IRS as a condition of supervised release. Muzzammil was ordered to pay $308,498.08 in unpaid taxes and interest in restitution to the IRS as a condition of supervised release. In addition, the brothers were ordered to forfeit 70 firearms and a motorcycle purchased with fraud proceeds.

"The Al Zubair brothers shamelessly used the illusion of being successful high rollers to defraud victims, sway a local city official into doing corrupt actions, and engage in massive fraud," said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. "We appreciate the work of the FBI and IRS investigators who painstakingly uncovered the layers of lies and deception, including attempts to defraud the Small Business Administration and not pay taxes. These lengthy sentences serve as a warning to others that we will not tolerate actions resulting from greed."

"Today's sentences send a clear and unmistakable message: elaborate fraud schemes and abuses of public trust will be met with serious consequences. These defendants orchestrated a calculated deception-impersonating foreign royalty to exploit victims for millions-while a public official betrayed the very community he was sworn to serve. Together, their actions undermined confidence in both financial systems and local government," said Detroit Field Office Special Agent in Charge, Karen Wingerd. "IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to following the money, unraveling complex financial schemes, and holding accountable those who believe they can profit through fraud and corruption. We will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of our financial system and ensure that justice is served"

"This case underscores the depths of deviance criminals will take to cheat people, programs, and the public to fuel their greed and create lifestyle built upon deception," said FBI Cleveland Acting Special Agent in Charge Tori Gaskill. "While the Al Zubair brothers fraud and scam scheme was complex, the multi-agency partnership led to a thorough investigation resulting in a right and just sentencing and an undeniable message to criminals: whether one person or as part of a criminal network, the FBI and its federal, state, and local partners will not relent in its pursuit to protect the American public from deceptive people and their practices that cause incalculable harm."

Evidence at trial showed that the brothers used their lies and schemes to obtain millions of dollars from victims which were then spent on a lavish lifestyle of luxury automobiles, designer clothes, expensive dinners, first-class travel all over the world, and an arsenal of firearms. In addition to their fraud and deceit, they engaged in a corrupt bribery scheme to advance their interests with Smedley who served as chief of staff for the City of East Cleveland. Smedley received and solicited thousands of dollars in current and future benefits in exchange for performing, and attempting to perform, official actions.

Among the types of schemes used to access funds from victims were investment fraud, a cryptocurrency mining venture, commercial and residential real estate transactions, and fraudulently obtaining emergency loans from the Small Business Administration during the pandemic.

This case was investigated by the IRS−Criminal Investigation and the FBI Cleveland Division.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Joseph H. Walsh for the Northern District of Ohio.

About the National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.