US marshals confirmed that ns Most Wanted Criminal John Ruffo is not a Dodgers fan when investigators managed to track down and fingerprint a man seen in a crowd at a 2016 baseball game.
The man, whose real identity has not been disclosed, was on Thursday indicted as a fugitive for a $350 million bank fraud scheme for the past 23 years and on the agency’s 15 most wanted list . Was in IS.
This confirmation came two days after officials asked for help identifying a man sitting in the stands at a televised game on 5 August 2016.
The man, along with his cousin of Ruffo, saw a ‘strong resemblance’ to the wanted felony, who first reported the tip to authorities in September 2016.
US Marshal Confirms An LA Dodgers Fan (Left) Is Not the Most Wanted Criminal John Ruffo (Right)
Investigators managed to track down and fingerprint the man seen in the crowd at a 2016 baseball game (seen in a blue shirt).
A relative of a man sitting in four rows from home plate at a 2016 Boston Red Sox and LA Dodgers baseball game contacted the US Marshals Tuesday night. ABC News.
He told investigators it was his family member in the picture, not the 66-year-old fugitive.
To confirm the man’s true identity, investigators traveled to meet him in person.
They took her fingerprints and did a background check, which completely ruled her out.
“US marshals in the Eastern Virginia and Central California districts confirmed the identity of the participant and determined that he was not John Ruffo,” the US marshals said in a press release.
The agency announced this week that investigators were informed in September 2016 of a man who looked like Ruffo, who was seen in footage of the game on TV.
Ruffo’s cousin told ABC News that they first reported the possible sighting after seeing a familiar face in the crowd.
Authorities this week sought help in identifying the man sitting on the stand at a television game on August 5, 2016, who bore a ‘strong resemblance’ to the wanted criminal.
He said, ‘I look and right behind home plate he locks the batsman and there is Johnny.’
‘ And I said, ‘Holy Christ, there he is. And I immediately called the marshal. I froze the frame, put it right in front of me.’
The footage shows a white, bald man with a moustache and a blue shirt sitting in four rows behind home plate.
Investigators narrowed the seat down to Section 1 Dugout Club, Row EE, Seat 10 and traced the person who bought the ticket for the seats.
However, the investigation stalled, as it turned out that the stamps changed hands several times, prompting the US marshals to petition the public for help.
Ruffo was convicted of a $353 million bank fraud and sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison in 1998, but fled with $13 million
Ruffo, now 66, was convicted in 1998 of one of the largest bank fraud scandals in US history.
The former computer vendor set up a fraud scheme to defraud US and foreign banks out of $353 million.
He was sentenced to 17 and a half years in Virginia, but was released on $10 million bond and ordered to report to a federal prison in New Jersey in November.
Ruffo failed to show up and has been running ever since – with an estimated $13 million in money that was never recovered from the scheme.
The fugitive’s last sighting was confirmed on the day he was about to report to prison, when he was captured in surveillance footage withdrawing money from an ATM in Queens, New York City.
Investigators found a rental car he was parking at John F. Kennedy Airport.
While several sightings of Ruffo have been reported over the years, none have been confirmed and none was more promising than the Dodgers’ lead.
After being caught in surveillance footage withdrawing money from an ATM in Queens, New York City (above), the fugitive’s last sighting was confirmed on the day he was about to report to prison.
Rough in surveillance footage. Investigators found he was driving a parked car at John F. Kennedy Airport
US marshals believe that Ruffo is leaving with a new identity and is known by several nicknames previously known to US marshals, including Joseph Ruffo, John Russo, Jack Nitz, Bruce Gregory, John Peters and Charles Sanders were involved. used to go. .
He stands at five feet and six inches and weighed around 170 pounds in 1998.
He has been described by investigators as a ‘master manipulator’ and a storyteller who ‘likes to spread the truth’ with a ‘desire to impress others’.
Investigators said he is lactose intolerant, computer savvy and enjoys fine wine, gambling and fine hotels.
It is likely that Ruffo has been living abroad because he has strong international business ties, had traveled to Aruba in the past and had a fondness for Italy.
US officials are offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who informs him of his arrest.
Ruffo’s case is the subject of the ABC News podcast series Have You Seen This Man.
US Marshals Most Wanted poster for Joh Ruffo. While several sightings of Ruffo have been reported over the years, none have been confirmed.
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