$350,000 fraud: Rufai ‘surety’ is a suspected fraudster, says American Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice has disclosed that the surety provided by arrested and detained Abidemi Rufai over alleged $350,000 fraud is a suspected fraudster who is not fit to play the role.
Penpushing reports that the Department in a letter written by the Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa Gorma to the United States Magistrate Judge in Eastern District of New York, Ramon Reyes said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted research into the surety which revealed that she is a suspect in an investigation into an email impersonation scheme.
The detained Rufai, it is recalled first appeared in court on Wednesday but was denied bail, because his brother, Alaba Rufai, who is listed in court records, could not post the $300,000 surety bond for his bail.
Penpushing further reports, that on Friday, a surety was presented with the court ruling that a New York state resident and family friend of the suspect could post the bond, and it was as a result that Nekpen Soyemi, a registered nurse, a Nigerian, appeared to stand as surety.
The controversial surety assured the court that she would guarantee the $300,000 bond and allow the suspect to stay at her and her husband’s home, however, the Magistrate Judge, Mr Reyes, delayed the release of Rufai until May 25 to give enough time to federal prosecutors to appeal the order.
Penpushing also reports that, in response to the surety the Acting U.S. Attorney, opposed the surety, as not credible disclosing that she (Soyemi) is a suspected fraudster and should not be allowed to stand surety for Rufai.
“First, the FBI has conducted research into the Surety and has learned information indicating that the Surety is not an appropriate person to perform that role. In 2015, the Surety’s bank (Bank of America) issued a report naming the Surety as a suspect in an investigation into an email impersonation scheme’, the letter reads.
“According to the bank’s report, a person purporting to be a donor deposited $134,000 into the bank account of a legitimate nonprofit. The “donor” (who was never identified) then contacted the non-profit and stated that some of the deposited funds were intended for a different recipient.
“The donor asked the non-profit to wire the excess funds to three different accounts, one of which was a Bank of America account in the Surety’s name. The report indicates that the Surety then made cash withdrawals of the proceeds at two different B of A locations. The Surety did not respond to inquiries from Bank of America.
“Second, FBI’s research was unable to confirm that the Surety owns the listed real property. Mortgage and deed records for the property indicate that it was last purchased by an individual with the initials L.S.G. on November 7, 2014.”
Penpushing further reports that, the Acting U.S. Attorney further said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) could not locate records showing that the surety has an interest in the property.
“The Surety has also submitted records showing that she has $335 in Robinhood investment account and $1,838 in a checking account. Neither submission suggests the Surety is in a position to secure a $300,000 bond.”
Penpushing reports that, it is recalled that the American Government earlier cautioned the court not to release the suspect on bail, adding that, that would be an extreme risk of flight and “if he does escape to Nigeria, extradition will be extraordinarily difficult or impossible because of his ties to the Nigerian government.”
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