Tampa Auto Dealer Sentenced to 54 Months Imprisonment for Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Exporting Stolen Vehicle

A Tampa auto dealer has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for his role in a wire fraud conspiracy and exporting a stolen vehicle. Mohamad Jihad Fakih, 27, was found guilty on August 21, 2025 and sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington.

Fakih was accused of conspiring with others to commit wire fraud by obtaining fraudulent loans from automotive financing companies. He would submit falsified loan applications on behalf of straw purchasers, misrepresenting that a vehicle was being purchased by the buyer. In reality, there was no vehicle for sale. The loan amounts would be disbursed to Fakih as the seller, and his coconspirators and straw purchasers would receive a cut from the proceeds.

According to court documents, Fakih repeated this scheme for at least six vehicles in the amount of at least $372,000. Additionally, he engaged in more straightforward theft, attempting to export stolen cars overseas. He procured a stolen Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV and arranged for it to be shipped in a container out of the Port of Savannah, the manifest for which had been falsified. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the container and assessed that the stolen Cullinan’s MSRP was approximately $460,000.

As part of his sentence, the court entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $378,886.96, the proceeds of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.

Fakih’s sentence marks the end of a long and complex investigation into his activities. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that those who engage in white-collar crimes are held accountable for their actions.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the sentencing of Fakih. The office praised the work of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for their role in investigating the case.

Fakih’s exact whereabouts are currently unknown, as he is serving his prison sentence. However, his sentence serves as a warning to others who may be considering similar crimes.

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