Nidal Awawdah Sentenced

Nidal Awawdah, aka Kifah Dalia, 34, of Bakersfield, California, and formerly of Tucson, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for a scheme to defraud Syrian refugees. Awawdah pleaded guilty to one count of Bank Fraud on January 25, 2024.

According to the Department of Justice, Awawdah established herself as a trusted resource to several Syrian refugees in the Tucson community from approximately December 2016 through August 2017. She befriended the refugees, acted as a translator, and assisted them in establishing their new lives. However, Awawdah then used her position of trust to defraud the victims, gaining access to their personal information and stealing their identities.

Awawdah opened credit card accounts in the victims’ names and made thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases using the fraudulently obtained credit cards. She also used at least one stolen identity to unlawfully obtain student loans. The total amount of money Awawdah stole from the refugees is not specified, but the scheme involved multiple victims and thousands of dollars in unauthorized transactions.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case, and the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. The case number is CR-22-01033-TUC-RM, and the release number is 2024-077_Awawdah.

United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez sentenced Awawdah to 14 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Awawdah’s sentence reflects the seriousness of her crimes and the harm she caused to the refugee community. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation and fraud.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is committed to investigating and prosecuting crimes that target refugees and other vulnerable communities. The office works closely with law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to identify and bring to justice individuals who engage in fraudulent schemes. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news and updates on cases like this one. The office is dedicated to serving the community and upholding the law, and it will continue to work tirelessly to protect the rights of all individuals, including refugees and other vulnerable populations.