Fox News links Maineville mosque to Uzbek trucking fraud
MAINEVILLE, OHIO. A Fox News Digital investigation identified financial links between the Islamic Center of Maineville, foreign-owned trucking companies, and the government of Uzbekistan. The mosque, under construction in Warren County, received substantial donations from carriers that federal records show have extensive safety and compliance violations. The Islamic Center of Maineville has been under construction for four years following Hamilton Township approval in April 2022. Fox News Digital reviewed Telegram channel posts from the mosque, which has 3,600 members, showing acknowledgments of donations from local trucking companies owned by Uzbeks totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Buraq Limited, a Springboro company associated with Rukhshona Sultonova, donated at least $28,000 across 28 gifts. Company records show dozens of violations, including English-proficiency issues, electronic logging device failures, and hours-of-service breaches. Premier Trucking Group Inc., owned by Sam Avazov, donated at least $25,000. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records indicate the company received over 100 total violations, including for unsafe driving and invalid commercial driver's licenses. Foko Logistics LLC, based in Hilliard and owned by Abubakr Olimov, made a single $20,000 donation. The company had 52 violations across 37 inspections in the FMCSA's current 24-month record, with an out-of-service vehicle rate of 41.7%. Maca Transportation and Services LLC in Dayton, owned by Muminkhuja Kholkhujaev, donated at least $7,000. Its records show 120 violations across 72 inspections and an out-of-service rate of 38.9%. Phoenix Cargo donated $150,000 and helped organize fundraising efforts. The company stated it was approached multiple times for donations and that its contribution represents a fraction of the total construction budget. Phoenix Cargo has been cited hundreds of times for safety violations. The mosque did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Nodawolf, an online researcher granted anonymity due to death threats, said the concentration of donors with repeated inspection violations suggests a pattern of non-compliance. The investigation also found ties between the mosque's Telegram channel and Uzbek government officials. Screenshots show associations with Erkinbay Abdulla and Sukhrob Norbekov, both identified as former Uzbek officials involved in creating trucking companies or representing the mosque. A six-member Uzbek delegation visited the United States in April 2025, including Ambassador Furqat Sidiqov and officials from the Ministry of Digital Technologies. Hamkor Uz Cincinnati Association owns the 6.7-acre property for the mosque. Its Telegram channel includes advertisements for local trucking companies and English courses. Ohio State Rep. Michelle Teska introduced legislation requiring commercial driver's license examinations to be administered in English. Teska cited the ability to take tests in 10 different languages as a common-sense failure. Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell stated there is no evidence laws have been broken regarding mosque fundraising but noted a disproportionate number of felony cases involving Uzbeks since 2021. Census data from 2024 shows roughly 1,500 Uzbekistan-born people in Greater Cincinnati and about 3,800 across Ohio. Uzbek community leaders estimate the population is higher. Hamkor Uz board member Nodirjon Ernazarov, who owns Ray Cargo Corp., stated the mosque is being built with help from all Uzbeks.
MAINEVILLE, OHIO. A Fox News Digital investigation identified financial links between the Islamic Center of Maineville, foreign-owned trucking companies, and the government of Uzbekistan. The mosque, under construction in Warren County, received substantial donations from carriers that federal records show have extensive safety and compliance violations. The Islamic Center of Maineville has been under construction for four years following Hamilton Township approval in April 2022. Fox News Digital reviewed Telegram channel posts from the mosque, which has 3,600 members, showing acknowledgments of donations from local trucking companies owned by Uzbeks totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Buraq Limited, a Springboro company associated with Rukhshona Sultonova, donated at least $28,000 across 28 gifts. Company records show dozens of violations, including English-proficiency issues, electronic logging device failures, and hours-of-service breaches. Premier Trucking Group Inc., owned by Sam Avazov, donated at least $25,000. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records indicate the company received over 100 total violations, including for unsafe driving and invalid commercial driver's licenses. Foko Logistics LLC, based in Hilliard and owned by Abubakr Olimov, made a single $20,000 donation. The company had 52 violations across 37 inspections in the FMCSA's current 24-month record, with an out-of-service vehicle rate of 41.7%. Maca Transportation and Services LLC in Dayton, owned by Muminkhuja Kholkhujaev, donated at least $7,000. Its records show 120 violations across 72 inspections and an out-of-service rate of 38.9%. Phoenix Cargo donated $150,000 and helped organize fundraising efforts. The company stated it was approached multiple times for donations and that its contribution represents a fraction of the total construction budget. Phoenix Cargo has been cited hundreds of times for safety violations. The mosque did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Nodawolf, an online researcher granted anonymity due to death threats, said the concentration of donors with repeated inspection violations suggests a pattern of non-compliance. The investigation also found ties between the mosque's Telegram channel and Uzbek government officials. Screenshots show associations with Erkinbay Abdulla and Sukhrob Norbekov, both identified as former Uzbek officials involved in creating trucking companies or representing the mosque. A six-member Uzbek delegation visited the United States in April 2025, including Ambassador Furqat Sidiqov and officials from the Ministry of Digital Technologies. Hamkor Uz Cincinnati Association owns the 6.7-acre property for the mosque. Its Telegram channel includes advertisements for local trucking companies and English courses. Ohio State Rep. Michelle Teska introduced legislation requiring commercial driver's license examinations to be administered in English. Teska cited the ability to take tests in 10 different languages as a common-sense failure. Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell stated there is no evidence laws have been broken regarding mosque fundraising but noted a disproportionate number of felony cases involving Uzbeks since 2021. Census data from 2024 shows roughly 1,500 Uzbekistan-born people in Greater Cincinnati and about 3,800 across Ohio. Uzbek community leaders estimate the population is higher. Hamkor Uz board member Nodirjon Ernazarov, who owns Ray Cargo Corp., stated the mosque is being built with help from all Uzbeks.