BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Most wanted: US Marshals need your help to ID Dodgers fan who resembles fraudster

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

WASHINGTON (NewsNation Now) — U.S. Marshals are asking for the public’s help identifying a man at a 2016 Dodgers game who investigators believe resembles a fugitive who has been on the run for more than 20 years.

The federal law enforcement agency Tuesday renewed its plea for assistance in finding the man who is on the FBI’s 15 Most Wanted list.

John Ruffo was convicted of a $350 million bank fraud scheme in 1998. The computer salesman from Brooklyn was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison, but right before he was supposed to start serving his time, he hit the road.

Ruffo withdraws money from an ATM, Nov. 9, 1998. This is the last known image of the fugitive. (Photo courtesy: US Marshals)

Authorities have released a surveillance photo of Ruffo stopping at an ATM on the day he was supposed to report to prison in New Jersey. That is the last known image of him.

On same day, Ruffo’s rented Ford Taurus was found in a parking lot at JFK Airport in New York.

Attorney Judd Burstein, who represented Ruffo after his arrest, told Dan Abrams he was stunned when Ruffo fled.

“I was outraged because I had managed to get him out on bail for a fraction of the amount that they wanted, because he was putting up his mother’s and I believe his aunt’s house and a cousin’s house,” Burstein said. “And I argued to the prosecutors that that was better than a $20 million bond because nobody runs off and leaves their mother and their wife and their aunt homeless.”

In 2016, Ruffo’s cousin, who lives in New Hampshire, was watching the Boston Red Sox play the LA Dodgers on TV when he saw a man who resembled Ruffo sitting right behind home plate at Dodger Stadium.

Investigators hope to identify the man in the blue shirt seen in Section 1 Dugout Club, Row EE, Seat 10 at the Aug. 5, 2016, game. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals)

Investigators say someone else bought the ticket and gave it away, so the marshals have not been able to confirm if that man is actually Ruffo.

(Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals)

Burstein does not believe the man who attended the game is Ruffo.

“He was much smaller in stature,” Burstein said. “I mean, unless he’s been working out at the gym every day since he left in 1998, that’s not him.”

Burstein also says he doesn’t think Ruffo will be found.

An age-progression rendering reveals what Ruffo may look like today. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals)

“The guy who can go into a consortium of banks, and tell them that ‘we’re doing a deal for a secret government project involving Philip Morris and it’s so secret, you need to lend us $350 million and we can’t even give you the serial numbers on the computers that we’re buying that you’re supposedly secured by,'” Burstein said, “If a guy who can accomplish that and get $350 million from a bank, I suspect that running away and not being caught is a lot easier for him.”

U.S. Marshals have released an age-progression photo of what Ruffo might look like today. They are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading directly to Ruffo’s arrest.

The agency says anyone with information can contact the nearest USMS District Office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 800-336-0102, or submit a tip using USMS Tips.

Dan Abrams Live

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

51°F Sunny Feels like 51°
Wind
2 mph E
Humidity
49%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
48°F A few passing clouds. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
3 mph NNE
Precip
9%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous