Ohio Imam Pilfers Mosque Funds, Bilks Pandemic Aid

Columbus, OH – Ahmed A. Sh. Ahmed, the ex-director of the Ibn Taymiyah Masjid and Islamic Center, is headed to prison after pleading guilty to a multi-faceted scheme of fraud and embezzlement. For years, Ahmed treated the mosque’s accounts like a personal slush fund, all while simultaneously defrauding housing programs and exploiting pandemic relief. The feds finally caught up to him, sentencing him to four months behind bars, followed by a halfway house stay and home confinement.

The scheme spanned from 2009 to 2019, with Ahmed steadily increasing the amount of money he siphoned from the ITMIC. He started small, writing himself checks totaling $4,500 in 2015. By 2018, that figure ballooned to roughly $21,000. The stolen funds weren’t used for charitable purposes, but to cover Ahmed’s personal bills and even finance a new vehicle. The audacity of the theft – a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the community – didn’t stop there.

While lining his own pockets with mosque funds, Ahmed was also running a parallel con with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. He falsely reported an annual income of just $18,000, conveniently omitting the $235,000 his household deposited into bank accounts between 2014 and 2018. This deception allowed him to illegally collect housing subsidies he wasn’t entitled to. It’s a classic case of greed and a complete disregard for the rules.

As if that wasn’t enough, Ahmed then turned to exploiting the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. From August to October 2020, he filed fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, further enriching himself at the expense of a system designed to help those genuinely in need. The feds detailed a pattern of brazen dishonesty, proving Ahmed wasn’t just negligent; he actively and knowingly committed multiple crimes.

U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., handed down the sentence, recognizing the severity of Ahmed’s actions. Beyond the prison time and confinement, Ahmed has been ordered to pay over $82,000 in restitution. While this won’t fully erase the damage done, it’s a start. The feds will likely pursue asset forfeiture to ensure the mosque and other victims receive full compensation. The investigation underscores the importance of rigorous oversight, even within religious organizations.

This case isn’t just about stolen money; it’s about a breach of trust. Ahmed abused his position of authority and exploited the generosity of a community. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case, and others like it, to expose those who prey on the vulnerable and abuse their power. This sentencing sends a message, but the real work of rebuilding trust within the ITMIC community now begins.”