In Baltimore, a complex fraud case has reached a significant conclusion. Ahmed Sary, 46, has been sentenced to a federal prison term for his involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain nearly $18 million intended for COVID-19 relief. The sentencing, announced by U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron includes seven years behind bars, one year of home detention, and three years of supervised release. Sary's deception exploited the CARES Act, originally designed to provide financial support during the pandemic, for his personal gain.
According to the statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Sary's criminal activities involved the submission of fraudulent loan applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). The plea agreement and court documents reveal that living it up at luxury hotels and making multiple trips to Dubai and Egypt, Sary misused the fraudulently obtained funds. He grossly inflated the business metrics for companies that existed only on paper.
Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office condemned Sary's actions, citing his luxurious lifestyle funded by deception. "Ahmed Sary is a swindler and a cheat. This sentence holds him accountable for every lie he told and the almost $18 million in Covid relief funds he stole from American taxpayers to fuel his greed and lavish lifestyle,” DelBagno said as per U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. The conviction arose from the relentless efforts of the Maryland Strike Force, an interagency group focusing on pandemic relief fraud on a grand scale.
This case is part of a larger commitment by the Department of Justice to pinpoint and prosecute those who have siphoned off pandemic aid unlawfully. A beachfront restaurant called Sary’s Kitchen in Alexandria, Egypt, and property purchases are just some examples of the opulence Sary afforded himself with the stolen money. Director of COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Mandy Riedel emphasized the ongoing federal response, "While the pandemic may have ended, the federal law enforcement response to the fraud continues, as demonstrated by this impactful case brought by our Strike Force in the District of Maryland," according to the press release.
The collaborative investigation that brought Sary to justice was acknowledged by U.S. Attorney Barron, who commended the FBI, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley prosecuted the case, further supported by the efforts of the Paralegal Specialists involved. The public is encouraged to report any suspected fraud related to COVID-19 by contacting the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or using their Web Complaint Form.
