RAVENNA, Ohio (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio) – Mustafa Ayoub Diab, 41, of Ravenna, has been convicted for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that stole over $1.2 million from federal COVID-19 relief programs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement Friday.
Diab was found guilty of theft of government funds, bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. According to court records, Diab, who owned a tax preparation business in Akron, and co-conspirator Elizabeth Lorraine Robinson, 33, of Ravenna, used fraudulent means to exploit COVID-era relief programs.
From June 2020 to August 2021, Diab and Robinson targeted the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), two critical federal programs designed to help Americans during the pandemic. They filed fraudulent applications on behalf of unsuspecting clients, falsely claiming that the individuals were self-employed or business owners, without their consent.
In addition, Diab opened multiple bank accounts in victims’ names to receive direct deposits of the fraudulently obtained funds. He immediately withdrew the funds in cash, using the stolen money to purchase real estate, cars, and take international trips.
The investigation revealed that Diab exploited the identities of nearly 80 individuals, resulting in $1.2 million in losses to federal programs. Diab is scheduled for sentencing on July 28, 2025, where he faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. Robinson, who pleaded guilty in February, faces the same penalty.
