CLEVELAND — An Akron tax preparer was sentenced Monday to 11 years in federal prison for siphoning some $700,000 in fraudulent coronavirus relief funds meant to help struggling businesses and the unemployed during the pandemic.

Mustafa Diab, who owned Tax Pro$, orchestrated a scheme that defrauded the government out of some $1.2 million. He turned around and gave $500,000 to clients who thought they were getting legitimate relief money.

U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver handed down the prison sentence and ordered Diab repay the government $1.2 million in restitution.

Oliver allowed Diab to self-report to prison. He is currently on GPS-monitored home confinement.

Prosecutors sought a 15-year prison sentence, arguing that many of Diab’s clients were in a vulnerable position after losing

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