|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Jan 15, 2013 16:12:12 GMT -5
 (Above photo credit: ckfraud.org) Fugitive Profile as of August 19th, 2014 (Based on US Marshals Top 15 poster) Alias: Joseph Ruffo, John Russo, Jack Nitz, Bruce Gregory, John Peters, Charles Sanders Sex: ……………………..MALE Race: ……………………WHITE Date of Birth: …….……..NOVEMBER 26, 1954 Place of Birth: …… …….BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Height: ……………….....5’6” Weight: …………..……..170 POUNDS Eyes: …………………....BROWN Hair: ………………….....BROWN, BALDING Skintone: ………..……....LIGHT Scars/Tattoos: …………..REQUIRES CORRECTIVE LENSES, WEARS GLASSES Who to call if you've seen him: US MARSHALS SERVICE 1-877-WANTED-2 or e-mail usms.wanted@usdoj.govJohn Ruffo has been wanted by the Marshals Service Eastern District of Virginia since November 1998, after he failed to self surrender to begin serving the seventeen-and a-half year prison term to which he had been sentenced. After being named in a 150-count indictment charging him with bank fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy, Ruffo was arrested by the FBI in 1997 and released on a $10 million bond. He and a co-defendant had set up a fraudulent business scheme through which they had defrauded United States and foreign banks of $350 million. Approximately $13 million of the money has still not been recovered. Ruffo pled guilty to all counts of the indictment in April 1998 and was sentenced to seventeen-and a-half years in Federal prison. At the time of his sentencing Ruffo's bail was continued and he was ordered by the court to self surrender on November 9, 1998. He became a Federal fugitive after failing to show up at the Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey to begin his prison term. Director Marshall said, "Ruffo may have access to monetary resources which could be helpful to him in evading capture. But, the Marshals Service is determined to see his days as a fugitive brought to an end." John Ruffo is a 45-year-old white male with brown eyes and brown (balding) hair. He is 5- feet-5- inches tall and weighs 170 pounds. Anyone with information about this fugitive should contact the closest U.S. Marshals Service office, or the Marshals Service headquarters at 1-877- WANTED2 or 1-877-926-8332. www.usmarshals.gov/investigations/most_wanted/ruffo/ruffo.htmwww.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=23199en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_RuffoAdmin Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form |
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Apr 28, 2014 20:39:30 GMT -5
Thought I'd bump this up since John Ruffo was on a repeat of CNBC's "America Greed: The Fugitives" tonight. It provided information I never knew on Ruffo before. According to a reporter on the show, Ruffo had actually helped the FBI years before his arrest in a project involving Russian operatives. His wife never really suspected Ruffo if he was ever secretive about anything because of that. A little more about the scam itself. Edward Reiners, who was Ruffo's partner in crime a former employee of Phillip Morris, went to several banks and pretended that he was in charge of a “top-secret” project for the tobacco company. Ruffo introduced himself as being in charge of purchasing computers for this phantom project. The way they were able to get the banks to buy into this scam was they forged an ex-employee's signature. They made her think she had won a radio contest for a free dinner and hence how they got her to sign a piece of paper and then copy it. The main thing with financial fraud fugitives is how ignorant people are in regards to them. I saw so many comments back when AMW was on the air and they'd post a picture of a financial fugitive on Facebook that was to the effect of "they stole from a bank who cares" "so a thief stole from thieves" etc... While I don't subscribe to any Robin Hood theories, yes, I am more interested in seeing a guy like Spiro Germenis caught who took the life savings of a quadriplegic man that will never recover from that than a guy who stole millions from millionaires who although also did not deserve to get scammed are more likely to recover. But in Ruffo's case, his scam did hurt poor and helpless people- his own family. According to American Greed, Ruffo's bail was set at 10 million dollars, obviously he was considered a flight risk considering his money. His wife put up the deed to to her house and car, and his elderly mother and five of his aging aunts all put up their homes to help him get bail as well. When Ruffo did not show up to service his 17-year sentence, they all eventually lost their homes. (His mother and all his aunts are now deceased). Even Ruffo's defense attorney who figured he wouldn't run considering that and having no prior criminal record called him "Pure Evil" for what he did to his family on the show. As far as whereabouts, it seems even the Marshal interviewed on the show says there's been few leads on him. He wrote a suicide note to his wife that no one bought, and his car was found abandoned at JFK airport (Virginia is technically the district he's wanted out of but the scams physically took place in NYC). With millions of dollars on him, he can be in another country and has enough computer savvy to even live in the U.S. under a false identity. But as the Marshal said on American Greed, all he has to do is make one mistake and he will be caught. www.ckfraud.org/john_ruffo.htmlnews.shadowtv.com/onair/20140120/1_20140120_151000.htmlvideo.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000205902 |
|
|
|
Post by HeadMarshal on Apr 29, 2014 11:55:39 GMT -5
I'm not a fan of fugitives that defraud financial institutions, they can cause a ton of issues that can impact a wide variety of people. Even though most of the money was recovered, Ruffo still had access to $13 million that did not belong to him.
Sadly Ruffo could be just about anywhere, under an alias and I wouldn't be surprised if he had plastic surgery. I'm just curious as to how much longer the Marshals will keep him on their 15 MW List, since he's been on the list for 14 years, there have been few leads on his case, his chances of reoffending aren't that great (at least in my opinion) and it's rare for white-collar fugitives to make the Marshals List.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Apr 29, 2014 12:02:31 GMT -5
I kinda like having a financial fugitive on the list to give it more variety. But the guy interviewed on American Greed sounded really determined to get him so I don't think Ruffo's getting removed from the list anytime soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by HeadMarshal on Mar 2, 2015 18:07:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by pakman on Mar 3, 2015 9:31:52 GMT -5
You know what's freaky? Ruffo kind of looks like a relative of mine, especially in those age-enhanced photos! I guarantee it's not him (my relative has lived in suburban Chicago his entire life) but it's still weird...
|
|
|
|
Post by King Of Clubs on Mar 10, 2015 17:33:32 GMT -5
You know what's freaky? Ruffo kind of looks like a relative of mine, especially in those age-enhanced photos! I guarantee it's not him (my relative has lived in suburban Chicago his entire life) but it's still weird... You just never know man, never know.
|
|
|
|
Post by King Of Clubs on Mar 15, 2015 10:10:32 GMT -5
I think the problem with Ruffo is that of numerous fugitives, His somewhat average looks. He could especially blend into a tropical area where there are lots of retirees.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Aug 3, 2015 22:01:35 GMT -5
Decided to post the age-enhanced photos here as well:   |
|
|
|
Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Jun 28, 2016 9:20:04 GMT -5
What I like about the Marshals list is that it's a very diverse range of fugitives, John Ruffo a financial fugitive has been on the run for a long time now and it's only a matter of time before someone calls with the right tip.
I see this guy as someone who lives a very laid back lifestyle as a middle class man somewhere in the U.S. He's the definition of the worst evil in financial crimes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Nov 10, 2018 18:34:46 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by zekcat on Nov 13, 2018 14:28:38 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Nov 13, 2018 15:31:39 GMT -5
It figured, it really wouldn’t make sense for articles on Ruffo to pop up and being removed shortly afterwards. |
|
|
|
Post by HeadMarshal on Nov 13, 2018 16:13:41 GMT -5
Thanks guys for noticing the Marshals put Ruffo back on their 15 MW Website, as a result I moved him back to the USMS 15 Most Wanted subforum.
What probably happened was a technical glitch on the website that removed Ruffo temporarily.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Nov 13, 2018 18:17:40 GMT -5
I've also removed our references and discussion so none of us look too embarrassed lol. There may come a day where they have to unfortunately remove him for real like the FBI has to do with cold cases on the top ten, but I too felt it didn't make sense considering there are currently four openings on the list and five if you count Hiers' Chinese detention.
|
|
