Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrated New Year’s Eve 2024 in Dubai alongside two individuals wanted on federal fraud charges, according to a lawsuit and video obtained as part of an ongoing legal case. The two men, Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail, have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with embezzling millions of dollars from a Chicago nonprofit hospital and face additional allegations related to a large-scale COVID-19 testing fraud scheme.
The video, confirmed for authenticity, shows Mr. Paxton, Mr. Suhail, and Tracy Duhon, who has been reported as Mr. Paxton’s girlfriend, attending a party beneath the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, while watching fireworks. The gathering has raised questions about the nature of Mr. Paxton’s relationship with the fugitives, as well as details surrounding his trip, including who covered travel expenses. Mr. Paxton’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Mr. Ahmed, who has donated at least $190,000 to Mr. Paxton’s political campaigns since 2022—including a $25,000 contribution shortly after federal fraud charges were announced—has longstanding business ties to Texas. He owned several companies in the state and formerly held a Houston property now valued at over $16 million, which was sold prior to his indictment. The current owner, Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who successfully defended Mr. Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial, stated he was unaware of any connection between Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Paxton.
The lawsuit, filed in Texas state court in October 2025, accuses Mr. Ahmed and others of operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of millions of dollars in real estate projects in Dubai that never materialized. The complaint references the defendants’ ostentatious lifestyles, citing luxury cars and watches, while one now claims financial hardship. The legal filing also notes that Mr. Paxton was seen celebrating with Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Suhail during the Dubai New Year’s Eve event.
Mr. Suhail is not a party to the Texas lawsuit but, along with Mr. Ahmed, faces federal charges including wire fraud and embezzlement. Mr. Ahmed served as chief financial officer of the Chicago hospital involved, while Mr. Suhail managed medical supply companies. Mr. Ahmed later faced further federal accusations connected to an $894 million fraudulent COVID-19 testing scheme involving false claims submitted to laboratories in Illinois and Texas. Both men were on the Department of Justice’s fugitive list at the time of the Dubai party; Mr. Ahmed was arrested in Serbia after fleeing the country.
Legal representatives for Mr. Ahmed did not respond to requests for comment. Mr. Suhail’s attorney, Adam Sheppard, confirmed his client’s presence at the Dubai event and acknowledged the video’s authenticity but declined to provide further details about Mr. Paxton’s involvement. He stated Mr. Suhail maintains personal and professional connections with a range of business and political figures.
The emergence of the Dubai video adds to ongoing scrutiny of Mr. Paxton, who is engaged in a competitive Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat. Over his 23 years as a public official, Mr. Paxton has confronted multiple investigations into his conduct and personal affairs but has not been convicted of any wrongdoing. His Democratic Senate opponent, James Talarico, has cited these controversies as a key element of his campaign, though Talarico’s campaign declined to comment on the latest developments.