Investigations

On August 15, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida sentenced Avraham Zano to 8 years of incarceration, 3 years of supervised release, forfeiture of $334,499, and a $300 special assessment. Zano was also ordered to pay $2,877,497 in restitution jointly and severally with co-defendant, Sofien Mlayah. In May 2023, Zano pleaded guilty to wire fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property, and failure to give up possession of household goods. The scheme involved inflating the costs of victims’ moves, taking possession of their goods, and abandoning the property throughout the country at undisclosed self-storage facilities, often resulting in total loss of the victims’ property.

 

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the Sunny Isles, Florida, Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.