Cuyahoga County Audit Racketeering: Mohammad & Qasem Sentenced

CLEVELAND, OH – The rot in Cuyahoga County government continues to yield prison sentences. Former Deputy Cuyahoga County Auditor Samir Mohammad and associate Hamdi “Sam” Qasem were sentenced this week, the latest fallout from a long-running federal investigation into widespread corruption.

Mohammad received nearly four years – 47 months, to be exact – after pleading guilty last year to a laundry list of offenses: racketeering, conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, Hobbs Act conspiracy, witness tampering, and making false statements. The charges stem from a scheme where Mohammad and Qasem traded favors and “things of value” with public officials in exchange for preferential treatment in personnel decisions. It wasn’t about merit; it was about what you could offer.

Qasem, meanwhile, received a comparatively light sentence of four months detention, followed by another four months under home confinement. While the disparity raises eyebrows, both men admitted to their roles in the corrupt network. Court records detail how former Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo and others actively steered county hiring towards Mohammad and Qasem’s designees – often members of the same social circles – in exchange for kickbacks and other benefits. It was a closed-loop system of self-enrichment at the public’s expense.

The investigation revealed Mohammad wasn’t shy about leveraging his position. He used an intermediary to funnel “things of value” to former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, again, in exchange for favorable personnel actions. Beyond personnel, the scheme extended to securing lucrative county contracts. Mohammad, along with Russo, Kevin Payne, and J. Kevin Kelley, allegedly used their influence to ensure Broma Information Technology, an IT consulting firm, landed a major county project. The reward? Cash kickbacks, a portion of which Mohammad passed on to Russo.

This isn’t a single isolated incident; it’s a pattern of behavior that demonstrates a deep-seated culture of corruption within Cuyahoga County government. The FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation spent considerable resources unraveling this web of deceit, and the investigation is likely not over. While these sentences offer a measure of accountability, the full extent of the damage – and the number of individuals involved – remains to be seen.

Assistant United States Attorneys Henry F. DeBaggis and Justin J. Roberts prosecuted the case, building on the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments as they emerge. The public deserves to know how their tax dollars are being spent – and who is profiting from the abuse of power.