Man posing as an Emirati prince sentenced to 20 years for stealing millions

The Lebanese citizen Alex Tannous, aged 39 years, assumed the role of an Emirati prince with relatives from UAE and defrauded people from all over the world promising them phony investment opportunities. Moreover, the man who is now serving a Federal prison sentence in a southern state was also ordered to repay 2.2 million dollars to the victims as well. Furthermore, he also conned victims from Libya, Belgium, and the US.

As stated in the above text, an American federal court in San Antonio found him guilty of wire fraud and sentenced him to twenty years in prison with additional repayments.

 
Belgian victim Marc De Spiegelerie recounted the time when he was duped into sending money amounting to €700 000 (around AED 2.77 million) for a non-existent project in Qatar after Tannous let him meet him in Dubai. De Spiegelerie stated, “The 20-year sentence is a comforting factor, but it cannot replace the funds or the years that I have lost.”

Tannous has an account in Dubai courts right now. One of his victims, Omar Y. Abouhalala from Libya, accused Tannous of AED 1.15 million fraud.

A Consistent Modus Operandi

In furtherance of his schemes, Tannous incorporated Equico Enterprises Inc. He assumed the identity of an officer from the UAE who was in charge of selecting American companies for various projects including the establishment of what are now dubbed ‘ghost kitchens’. One of his victims sent him $70,000 in four tranches, but never got the project executed.

In addition to calling himself a “World Peace Ambassador” and being the chairman of a conglomerate in Dubai, Tannous was in fact a parasite that depended on his ex wife and family to pay for his lavish lifestyle as court documents reveal. He filed a bankruptcy petition in the year 2021 in order to avoid paying back his investors.

Implications on the Law

Tannous was detained in February of 2023 and was charged with six counts of wires fraud. He pleaded guilty to one count in July, was sentenced, and ordered to finish two thousand hours of community service in addition to his imprisonment. U. S. Attorney Jaime Esparza described Tannous as a fraudster who constantly defrauded small businesses while leaving owners struggling to survive.

This case demonstrates the dangers that lie in trusting fraudulent scams while reminding potential perpetrators the dire ramifications of taking advantage of others.

Stay informed about high-profile fraud cases and their outcomes at Just Dubai. Learn how justice was served in Alex Tannous's global scam. Read the full story now!