The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has imposed an automatic interim suspension on Ziad Mahmood Khalel (PL1108) of Sterling Heights, Michigan, following his federal felony conviction for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
The suspension took effect October 20, 2025, the date of conviction.
? Michigan Court Rules – Chapter 9 (including MCR 9.115 and MCR 9.120)
Case Overview
- Respondent: Ziad Mahmood Khalel, PL1108
- City: Sterling Heights, Michigan
- County: Macomb
- Case Number: 25-93-AI
- Notice Issued: October 30, 2025
- Discipline: Automatic Interim Suspension
Basis for Automatic Suspension
According to the notice, Mr. Khalel was convicted by guilty plea on October 20, 2025, of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, a federal felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1347 and 1349.
The conviction occurred in:
United States of America v. Ziad Khalel
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Case No. 23-cr-20022
Under Michigan Court Rule 9.120(B)(1), a lawyer’s license to practice law in Michigan is automatically suspended upon conviction of a felony, without the need for a separate evidentiary hearing at that stage.
What Happens Next
Following the filing of a judgment of conviction, the matter will be assigned to a hearing panel for further proceedings under MCR 9.115.
Until a hearing panel issues a subsequent order under MCR 9.115(J), the interim suspension remains in effect.
This stage of the process is procedural rather than discretionary. Automatic interim suspension is designed to immediately protect the public and the courts when a felony conviction has been entered.
Why This Matters
Automatic interim suspensions operate as a bright-line safeguard in Michigan’s attorney discipline system. Once a felony conviction is entered, suspension is mandatory, regardless of the underlying facts or sentencing posture. The later hearing phase determines the final discipline, which may include extended suspension or disbarment.
This case reflects how federal criminal convictions trigger immediate professional consequences in Michigan, even before the disciplinary process reaches its final outcome.
