On Tuesday, a federal judge in Phoenix sentenced Ahmed Maqbul Syed, 60, to 96 months in prison for laundering money from a nationwide tech‑support scam that preyed on elderly Americans.
Syed, a former Illinois resident, helped funnel funds obtained through fake computer alerts that warned users of security breaches. Victims were told their bank accounts were hacked or linked to criminal activity.
The court ordered Syed to pay $2.4 million in restitution, a sum intended to reimburse victims who lost substantial portions of their life savings. The payment will be overseen by a court‑appointed trustee.
Syed will report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Florence, where he will serve his sentence. A hearing on the restitution schedule is set for next month.