A Kaysville man, Mubarak Sulaiman Ukashat, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting to a scheme involving COVID-19 relief fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, and unemployment benefits fraud. Ukashat, 38, previously served as president of the Muslim Student Club at Utah State University.
On February 6, 2025, Ukashat pleaded guilty to failing to file required currency and monetary instruments reports. He was also ordered by a U.S. District Court Judge to pay $392,827 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. In addition, he agreed to forfeit $101,000.
Court records show that between June and July 2020, Ukashat submitted four fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications to the U.S. Small Business Association using names of individuals with whom he had no connection. He directed about $333,900 from these loans into the bank account of the USUSA Muslim Students Club at America First Credit Union—a club account over which he had control. He later moved the funds into another account jointly held with a relative before spending the money on personal expenses.
Ukashat’s expenditures included purchasing a GMC Yukon for $45,900; buying electronics worth $27,000; paying off a car loan with $21,000; making debt payments totaling $20,000; putting down $10,000 in earnest money for a house; and using $5,200 for college expenses. Over $100,000 was transferred abroad to countries such as Nigeria and Dubai.
He also fraudulently obtained nearly $59,000 in state unemployment insurance benefits despite not qualifying for them.
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah announced the sentencing. The investigation was led by IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Bouton and Mark Y. Hirata from the District of Utah.
