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 by a federal jury in March 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 completing his prison term and must pay $1,213,860 in restitution. The sentencing took place on December 1.
According to court documents, Diab operated a tax return preparation business in Akron with co-conspirator Elizabeth Lorraine Robinson. Between June 2020 and August 2021, Diab 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 eligibility for programs such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and the Paycheck Protection Program.
The funds obtained through these false applications were deposited into bank accounts that Diab opened and controlled using his clients’ names but without their consent. He then withdrew the money for personal use, purchasing real estate, vehicles, and funding international travel. Evidence presented at trial showed he used the identities of nearly 80 victims to submit fraudulent claims.
Robinson previously pleaded guilty 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.
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