Two Ohio brothers, Zubair Al Zubair (42) and Muzzammil Al Zubair (31), were sentenced on May 5 to 24 and 23 years in federal prison for a $21 million fraud scheme that ran from 2020 to 2023. The brothers pretended to be Middle Eastern royalty, fabricated claims of marriage to a UAE princess and a hedge‑fund manager title, and used the ruse to lure victims into cryptocurrency, COVID‑19 relief, and investment scams.

The fraud involved bribing Michael Smedley, a former East Cleveland mayoral aide, with cash, Japanese wagyu beef, Cleveland Browns tickets and other lavish gifts. Smedley received a sentence of just over eight years for his role in shielding the brothers’ operations and for attempting to secure state funding and official city letterhead for the pair.

Victims included a former girlfriend of Zubair in the UAE who lost $737,000 and a Chinese investor who lost nearly $18 million after being convinced the brothers owned an industrial complex and were launching a crypto business there. The brothers spent the illicit proceeds on private jets to cities such as Aspen, Miami, London and Madrid, as well as luxury cars, watches and a custom gold‑plated rifle.

The sentencing followed a two‑week trial in which a federal jury convicted the brothers of conspiracy to commit bribery, honest‑services wire fraud, the Hobbs Act, wire fraud, money laundering and tax‑evasion offenses. Prosecutors said the brothers will be required to pay restitution, and the court will oversee the enforcement of that requirement in subsequent proceedings.