Continuing coverage
Our Columbus Bureau has been following the Amer Ahmad case from the beginning. Here’s a look at some our our past coverage:
An arrest warrant has been issued for former deputy Ohio treasurer Amer Ahmad, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery charges but has been free on bond awaiting sentencing in the federal case.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office asked the court to issue the warrant after credible information was received that Ahmad had violated the conditions of his supervised release. The U.S. Marshals Service is conducting the search for Mr. Ahmad,”
according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson in Columbus signed the arrest warrant Friday.
U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Fred Alverson said he could not elaborate on what release terms Ahmad is believed to have violated.
Ahmad, a Canton native who now lives in Chicago, pleaded guilty in December to his role in a kickback scheme that involved setting up his high school classmate to make $3.2 million in trading commissions off the state in exchange for $523,000 in kickbacks. As part of his plea agreement, Ahmad agreed to make restitution of up to $3.2 million.
Ahmad was given until Tuesday of this week to file objections to a pre-sentencing report, according to court records. He faces up to 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines, plus three years probation after he is released.
Ahmad served in the Ohio treasurer’s office under Democrats Richard Cordray and Kevin Boyce from May 2008 to January 2011 and went on to be comptroller for the city of Chicago for Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s administration. He resigned his Chicago position in July shortly before he was indicted.
Ahmad’s defense attorney, Karl Schneider, could not be immediately reached for comment. Ahmad did not return voicemail and text messages left for him.
Ahmad surrendered his passport to authorities in August.
In May 2010, our Columbus Bureau raised questions about personal ties between Ahmad and Noure Alo, an immigration attorney hired by Boston-based State Street Bank to act as its lobbyist to help land a lucrative state contract. Those stories led the FBI to begin investigating Ahmad, Alo and the treasurer’s office and the discovery of a separate illegal scheme that resulted in criminal convictions.
Alo pleaded guilty in December to aiding and abetting wire fraud. He is also awaiting sentencing.
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