Press Release
Contact:
DONALD A. DAVIS
U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (616) 456-2404
PHILADELPHIA MAN ADDED TO BANK FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT
INDICTMENT RELATING TO MISSING SARANAC, MICHIGAN, MAN
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009 -
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – A federal grand jury returned a Second Superseding
Indictment, on January 27, 2009, against Rami Saba of Lowell, Michigan, and Raogo Ouedraogo
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, charging each with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, as well as
four counts each of attempted bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Donald A.
Davis announced today. The charges relate to the unexplained disappearance of Donald L. Dietz
of Saranac, Michigan, who disappeared under suspicious circumstances on or around September
11, 2007.
According to the Second Superseding Indictment, the principal object of the conspiracy between defendants Saba and Ouedraogo “was to kidnap and incapacitate their victim, Donald L. Dietz, assume his identity, and to illegally obtain money and funds from various financial institutions using the identity of Donald L. Dietz.”
The conspiracy count and each substantive count of attempted bank fraud carry a maximum sentence of thirty years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.00. Each count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years’ imprisonment, at least one of which must be served consecutively to the bank fraud sentences.
Defendant Ouedraogo was arrested in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, yesterday on the charges in the Second Superseding Indictment. Also yesterday, the Secret Service executed search warrants at defendant Ouedraogo’s residence and place of employment. Defendant Ouedraogo is scheduled to make his initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge in Philadelphia today. Defendant Saba is expected to be arraigned in Grand Rapids on the charges in the Second Superseding Indictment in the next few weeks.
U.S. Attorney Davis praised the joint, continuing efforts of the Michigan State Police and the United States Secret Service in this ongoing investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Green.
A copy of the indictment is attached.
The charges in the pending indictment are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
END
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