Highlights
- Mohammed Maio, 43, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and illegal firearm possession tied to $2.2 million in COVID relief fraud.
- Parents Souzan El-Sayed, 66, and Abukar Maio, 70, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and money laundering.
- The trio fraudulently claimed PPP and EIDL funds for businesses with no employees between May 2020 and March 2024.
- Mohammed's sentencing is set for September 28; his parents face sentencing October 5.
A Phoenix man with a prior felony conviction and his elderly parents pleaded guilty this week to federal charges stemming from a $2.2 million COVID relief fraud scheme that prosecutors say funded real estate purchases and the illegal acquisition of firearms.
Mohammed Maio, 43, admitted to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, money laundering, felon in possession of a firearm, and aiding a false firearm purchase statement, according to AZFamily reporting on the case. His mother, Souzan El-Sayed, 66, and father, Abukar Maio, 70, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and money laundering.
Between May 2020 and March 2024, the three obtained $2.2 million in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan relief for businesses prosecutors say had no employees. The scheme ran for nearly four years before federal charges were filed.
The firearms angle adds a separate layer of federal exposure for Mohammed Maio. Because he is a convicted felon, he is legally barred from possessing firearms. Prosecutors allege he had his mother lie on a May 2021 gun purchase form, claiming she would be the weapon's user before transferring it to him.
All three face decades in federal prison. Mohammed Maio's sentencing is scheduled for September 28. His parents are set to be sentenced October 5, per AZFamily.
The case was also reported by yourvalley.net, which confirmed the fraud and firearms charges.
Who are the defendants?
Mohammed Maio is a 43-year-old Phoenix resident with a prior felony conviction that barred him from legally owning firearms. His parents, Souzan El-Sayed and Abukar Maio, are 66 and 70 years old, respectively. All three pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the same COVID relief fraud conspiracy.
Sentencing for Mohammed Maio is set for September 28, with his parents to follow on October 5.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 30/07/2026 00:00
- Fox 10 Phoenix retrieved 30/07/2026 00:00
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 30/07/2026 00:00. Every claim traces to a source.
