ZANESVILLE, Ohio — A Franklin County man has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after pleading guilty to a series of felony charges connected to a theft and burglary investigation at a Muskingum County fitness center.
Liban Mohamed, 27, of Westerville, appeared Monday in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, where he admitted to burglary, multiple theft offenses, identity fraud, tampering with evidence, and possession of cocaine.
Judge Gerald Anderson sentenced Mohamed to 10 years in prison.
According to investigators, the case began when police responded to reports of suspicious activity and thefts at a local gym. Authorities allege Mohamed entered the facility without properly checking in and made his way to the locker room area.
Employees later observed a confrontation between Mohamed and a gym member who accused him of attempting to steal items from lockers. The dispute escalated into a physical altercation before Mohamed left the facility.
Investigators subsequently determined that several credit cards had been taken from gym bags belonging to multiple victims.
While officers were gathering information, a Muskingum County Sheriff’s deputy located Mohamed nearby as he attempted to leave the area. Authorities said he initially provided false identifying information before eventually revealing his true identity. Deputies also discovered he was wanted on outstanding warrants in Franklin County.
During the booking process, officials reported finding a dollar bill containing a white powdery substance that later tested positive for cocaine.
Prosecutors said Mohamed had previously been placed on probation in Franklin County for similar offenses and had also received intervention in lieu of conviction in a separate drug-related case in Warren County.
Court records indicate Mohamed is also facing criminal charges in several other Ohio counties involving similar allegations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Muskingum County Prosecutor John Litle.
