Two brothers from Ohio allegedly built an entire fake royal billionaire lifestyle, complete with private jets, cryptocurrency deals, and luxury mansions, by pretending to be Middle Eastern princes. Federal prosecutors say the elaborate scheme brought in around $21 million through fraud, bribery, crypto scams, and fake business deals.
Zubair Razzaq and Muzzammil Muhammad spent years presenting themselves as ultra-connected Middle Eastern elites with endless wealth and royal connections.
Zubair allegedly claimed to be married to a princess from the United Arab Emirates, while his younger brother Muzzammil reportedly portrayed himself as a hedge fund genius. According to investigators, the brothers learned about investing through YouTube videos and the TV show ‘Billions.’
To sell the image, they surrounded themselves with luxury cars, chartered private jets, designer clothing, expensive watches, VIP sports suites, and constant social media posts flexing their supposed wealth. Federal investigators say the brothers carried out multiple fraud schemes between 2020 and 2023.
One of the key elements that made the operation appear legitimate was the involvement of Michael Smedley, East Cleveland’s former chief of staff. Prosecutors say the brothers showered Smedley with cash payments, luxury dinners, cigars, sporting event tickets, expensive Wagyu beef, and promises of a high-paying future job.
In return, Smedley allegedly helped transform them from luxury influencers into people who looked credible and connected. The city even granted the brothers the title of International Economic Advisers for East Cleveland, a position that did not exist before they requested it.
The brothers allegedly told investors they were launching a massive cryptocurrency mining operation at Nela Park, a large industrial complex in Ohio that formerly housed General Electric’s lighting headquarters. There was one significant problem: prosecutors say they did not own the building.
Despite that, a Chinese investor poured nearly $18 million into the operation after being convinced the brothers owned the site. Investors also shipped over a thousand crypto mining machines to the property at a cost of around $8.8 million. According to prosecutors, the brothers intercepted the shipments outside the property and sold the machines to outside buyers for a combined $5.5 million.
The fraud did not stop there. Zubair’s former girlfriend from the UAE reportedly lost $737,000 in what was described as an investment scam. Zubair also allegedly used fake documents to lease a massive lakeside mansion owned by a Cleveland Clinic doctor, and investigators say the property sustained around $560,000 in damage. The mansion later became the site of an FBI raid in 2023.
The brothers were also accused of stealing around $27,000 in COVID relief benefits and owing approximately $2 million in back taxes.
Authorities seized luxury vehicles, watches, and more than 80 fi**arms connected to the operation, including a custom gold-plated AK-47.
After a two-week federal trial, both brothers and Smedley were convicted on multiple charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, theft of government funds, and bribery-related offenses. During sentencing, the judge told the brothers, “You stole a lot of money, defrauded people, and put East Cleveland in a terrible light.”
Zubair was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison, and Muzzammil received 23 years. Both were ordered to pay more than $21 million in restitution.
