Both halves of a Michigan married couple were arrested Tuesday on separate criminal charges relating to finance.
The wife, Zeinab Makki, 59, was taken into custody for operating a $10.6 million pharmacy fraud scheme, according to authorities.
The husband, Wahid Mohamed Makki, 59, is accused of using roughly $1 million in COVID-19 relief loans to purchase a Beirut condominium, authorities noted.
Zeinab Makki is facing one count of healthcare fraud, according to a report.
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“[Zeinab] Makki allegedly engaged in a healthcare fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars over several years from a system designed to provide healthcare to those in need,” said Josh Hauxhurst, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit division. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to stop these illegal acts and hold accountable those who commit them.”
If convicted, she could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine, the report noted.
Wahid Mohamed Makki is facing one count of money laundering and one count of wire fraud, and he is accused of using Economic Injury Disaster Loans to fund at least 10 shell corporations, according to the report.
“Economic Injury Disaster Loans played a significant role in keeping many Michigan businesses running during the pandemic,” Hauxhurst said. “This defendant is alleged to have taken money from that program and used it to purchase property overseas.”
He reportedly used the loans to acquire at least $1,082,600, which he then transferred through an international wire to a Turkish bank.
The transfer was payment for a “sea view condo in Beirut, Lebanon,” according to court records.
“My office remains committed to using every available federal tool, including both criminal and civil remedies, to combat and prevent COVID-19 related fraud,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said.
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“We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to exploit the pandemic for personal gain, to protect vulnerable populations, and to safeguard the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs,” she said.
