A Florida man convicted of stealing sports camp tuition to fund his plastic surgery and gambling habit has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Mehdi Belhassan, 53, of Tampa, was found guilty on two counts of wire fraud in October 2023. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay restitution of $575,427 and forfeiture of $443,346, as well as two years of supervised release.
Belhassan, who falsely claimed that he would operate his annual MB Sports Camps at a Boston-area college, collected funds from over 300 families across the United States. Despite lacking the appropriate permits and being informed by the city that he could not hold his camp in Boston, he continued to promote it and deceive families. He also defrauded a financing company by using a fraudulent contract with a college, which included a forged signature of an administrator, to obtain operating funds for his nonexistent camp.
Prosecutors revealed that Belhassan used the stolen funds to indulge in plastic surgery, go on lavish vacations, gamble in Las Vegas, and stay in upscale hotels. The deceitful actions of Belhassan left hundreds of families devastated and out of pocket.
The defendant’s actions were not only fraudulent but also deeply damaging to the families and children who were expecting to attend the sports camp, said a prosecutor involved in the case. His greed and selfishness will have a lasting impact on those affected.
Judge David Thompson, who presided over the case, emphasized the seriousness of Belhassan’s crimes and the impact they had on innocent families. He stated that the prison sentence and financial penalties were necessary to hold Belhassan accountable for his actions and send a message that such fraud and deception would not be tolerated.
The sentencing hearing was emotional, as several victims of Belhassan’s fraud were present to share the devastating impact it had on their lives. Some families had saved for months to be able to afford the sports camp, only to have their dreams shattered by Belhassan’s deceitful actions.
This ordeal has not only caused us significant financial strain but has also broken the trust we had in organizations providing opportunities for our children, said one parent. We hope that this sentence will serve as a deterrent to others who may consider preying on innocent families.
With the conclusion of the trial and the imposition of the sentence, the affected families are left to rebuild their lives and seek justice for the harm caused by Belhassan’s fraud. Despite the emotional toll, they remain hopeful that justice has been served and that no other families will fall victim to similar scams in the future.
