Ringleader of Wire Fraud Conspiracy Sentenced

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Abas Ali, age 22, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced November 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Ali to 27 months' imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months' imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 51 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ali's release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release on both charges.

A task force of Sarpy County, Douglas County, and Pottawattamie County agencies was assembled to investigate a significant spike in the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro areas in burglarized vehicles. The modus operandi of the thefts was that one member of the conspiracy would drive a vehicle slowly through a residential neighborhood while other members of the conspiracy, called "runners," would enter vehicles parked in driveways or parked on the street outside of the residence and steal property like credit cards, identification, computers, money, and other valuables.

The members of the conspiracy would then take the stolen cards from the vehicles to area stores like Wal-Mart and other retailers and buy drinks, food, and prepaid cards that they would load up with money from the stolen cards. They would also purchase money orders to further conceal the source of the proceeds and the money orders would be deposited back to bank accounts or bitcoin accounts belonging to the members of the conspiracy.

Law enforcement was able to identify and arrest all five members of the conspiracy.

Co-conspirator Hassan Mohamed was sentenced on June 12, 2024, to 20 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 44 months.

Co-conspirator Hazem Sarmin was sentenced on June 14, 2024, to 18 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 42 months.

Co-conspirators Ian Betkie will be sentenced December 5, 2024, and Bead Chan will be sentenced January 3, 2025. Both pled guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

This case was investigated by the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.