A federal magistrate in New York ruled Wednesday that a Nigerian citizen charged in last year’s $650 million unemployment fraud in Washington state cannot be released before his trial.
Abidemi Rufai, 42, arrested Friday in New York as he prepared to fly to Nigeria, had asked a federal court to release him to the custody of his brother, who is an attorney in New York, according to federal prosecutors and Abidemi Rufai’s private attorney.
He had also agreed to electronic home monitoring and certain travel restrictions, said federal prosecutors and Rufai’s attorney, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York his brother, listed in court records as Alaba A. Rufai, told the court Wednesday morning that he could not afford the $300,000 “surety” bond that he would have been required to post to ensure that Abidemi Rufai appeared for his trial, said federal prosecutors and Barrows.
As a result, Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes ordered Abidemi Rufai detained and taken to the Western District of Washington, federal prosecutors and Barrows said.
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors had argued that Rufai presented “an extreme risk of flight” and had requested that he be held in custody until his trial in federal court in Tacoma.
Rufai is charged with stealing more than $350,000 last year by filing fraudulent unemployment claims with the Washington state Employment Security Department (ESD) using the identities of more than 100 Washingtonians. It was the first “significant” arrest in that fraud, federal officials said.
Rufai “denies any involvement in these transactions,” Barrows said on Tuesday.
Although Abidemi Rufai planned to seek “alternative surety” and to ask the court to reopen the detention case, he was unable to do so by the end of the day Wednesday, Barrows said.
“The family is still working on trying to get another friend or relative to serve as the surety,” Barrows said in an email Wednesday evening. “If they can, I will file for a rehearing.”
Report by Paul Roberts from seattle times
Abidemi Rufai, 42, arrested Friday in New York as he prepared to fly to Nigeria, had asked a federal court to release him to the custody of his brother, who is an attorney in New York, according to federal prosecutors and Abidemi Rufai’s private attorney.
He had also agreed to electronic home monitoring and certain travel restrictions, said federal prosecutors and Rufai’s attorney, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York his brother, listed in court records as Alaba A. Rufai, told the court Wednesday morning that he could not afford the $300,000 “surety” bond that he would have been required to post to ensure that Abidemi Rufai appeared for his trial, said federal prosecutors and Barrows.
As a result, Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes ordered Abidemi Rufai detained and taken to the Western District of Washington, federal prosecutors and Barrows said.
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors had argued that Rufai presented “an extreme risk of flight” and had requested that he be held in custody until his trial in federal court in Tacoma.
Rufai is charged with stealing more than $350,000 last year by filing fraudulent unemployment claims with the Washington state Employment Security Department (ESD) using the identities of more than 100 Washingtonians. It was the first “significant” arrest in that fraud, federal officials said.
Rufai “denies any involvement in these transactions,” Barrows said on Tuesday.
Although Abidemi Rufai planned to seek “alternative surety” and to ask the court to reopen the detention case, he was unable to do so by the end of the day Wednesday, Barrows said.
“The family is still working on trying to get another friend or relative to serve as the surety,” Barrows said in an email Wednesday evening. “If they can, I will file for a rehearing.”
Report by Paul Roberts from seattle times
See him looking all responsible when in reality he is nothing but a common thief. He has brought shame to his family that must have been celebrating him when he was appointed SSA.
ReplyDeleteSenior Yahoo man
DeleteWell say hello to your brothers hushpups and co for us.
DeleteHis brother that he probably never helped with a dime now he wants that one to lose his law license! They call themselves Honorable but are despicable!
ReplyDeletePlease ooo America let him stay there oo since he is flight risk. See his head like apple. These are the people making people to question God if they are born to suffer.
ReplyDeleteI know that friends have deserted his family.. They won't want to be associated with them
Big shame. Stealing money that was meant for people that actually need the assistance. The real unemployed people were evicted and faced hardship last year. Thunder fire you, greedy mofo.
ReplyDeleteI saw his picture posing inside G-Wagon. When they steal money, it’s just to pose nonsense pose that nobody cares about, kmt
His brother should wash his hand off him, this one is an embarrassment
ReplyDeleteHis brother should wash his hand off him, this one is an embarrassment
ReplyDeleteHmmm
ReplyDeleteOgun state gov have terminated his appointment
ReplyDeleteHandsome THIEF
ReplyDeleteI saw a video where he was spraying a birthday celebrant dollars. Omo, see dollars for ground. people that know him well said he has been a senior man G boy since his days at OSU.
ReplyDelete