Lebanese Fraudster Posed as Dubai Prince, Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

SAN ANTONIO - A Lebanese man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 240 months in prison for wire fraud.

According to court documents, Alex Georges Tannous, 39, of Ain-Akrine, Lebanon, told his victims he was a prince from Dubai who was charged with bringing U.S.-based businesses to market in Dubai. He claimed millions were available, but that an initial payment from the victim was required to initiate the flow of funds. Once the funds were secured, he used the money to support his lavish lifestyle and the lifestyles of multiple family members. In total, Tannous stole approximately $2.5 million from his victims.

Tannous was arrested Feb. 9 and indicted on six counts of wire fraud. He pleaded guilty to one count on July 25. In addition to imprisonment, Tannous was ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution.

"Alex Tannous was a serial con-artist who betrayed dozens of hard-working Americans in San Antonio and elsewhere, capitalizing on the trust he'd developed with them over years," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. "Fraudsters who see this nation and its citizens as targets for their illicit schemes should know that we will stop at nothing to find, prosecute and imprison you-and in the process, ensure you to pay back your victims every bit of what you stole."

"Tannous convinced his victims that he was offering legitimate business opportunities, when in reality, he was simply lining his own pockets," said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI's San Antonio field office. "Many of his victims were small business owners trying to live the American dream, but instead they were pulled into a financial nightmare. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI, and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a financial scam to report it at www.tips.fbi.gov."

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons prosecuted the case.

###