Ahmed Mohamed, a youth soccer coach in Fair Oaks, Va., has been arrested and is facing multiple counts of embezzlement and computer-related fraud charges for allegedly selling international youth soccer camps to families that did not exist. Authorities estimate he embezzled roughly $60,000.
According to Fox 5 D.C., Mohamed previously coached with the Alexandria Soccer Association and targeted families of youth athletes. He sold them on high-end, soccer training camps in Italy, stealing up to $10,000 per family.
In a statement, ASA said, "Ahmed Mohamed is no longer employed by Alexandria Soccer Association (ASA). The conduct that led to his arrest did not involve ASA or any of its programs or operations. At the time of the alleged conduct, Mr. Mohamed was acting independently to promote his own private program offerings. His actions were not authorized by ASA and were unrelated to his responsibilities with the organization or any ASA-sponsored program or activity. ASA will cooperate with law enforcement."
Following his time at ASA, Mohamed created a private business, Sporting Soccer Academy, and collected the money, telling the families he would arrange the travel and lodging. Sporting Soccer Academy was confirmed to be a legitimate LLC, but the funds collected never went toward international soccer training camps.
The Fairfax County police began investigating Mohamed at the end of June, and initially identified 13 families that were defrauded. Later, four more victims came forward.
Now, he is facing 13 counts of embezzlement and 13 counts of computer-related fraud.
"He was not a stranger, and that's honestly what makes this all so hard and so difficult for our family," said Sarah Taylor, one of the parents who was defrauded by Mohamed. "He was a trusted coach and mentor to my son. He was a friend of our family. He was someone who we really trusted.”
