Ohio Brothers Sentenced for $21M Royal Fraud Scheme

Zubair Al Zubair, aged 43, was sentenced to 24 years in prison, while his brother Muzzammil Al Zubair, aged 33, received a 23-year sentence for their involvement in a $21 million fraud scheme. The brothers posed as Middle Eastern royals, with Zubair falsely claiming to be married to a UAE princess and Muzzammil pretending to be a hedge fund manager.

They defrauded victims out of nearly $18 million through various fraudulent activities, including bogus cryptocurrency investments and real estate deals. The brothers spent the proceeds on luxury items such as Rolls Royces, Lamborghinis, designer watches, and private jet trips to places like London and Madrid.

Additionally, they bribed public officials, including Michael Leon Smedlei, the former chief of staff for East Cleveland, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for accepting bribes in exchange for helping the brothers present themselves as legitimate businessmen. The investigation led to the seizure of 80 firearms, including custom gold-plated AK-47 style rifles.

The brothers were ordered to pay $19.2 million in restitution.