Midamar Founder Ordered Held Without Bond Pending Sentencing

Chief United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade, today issued an written order directing that William B. Aossey, Jr., 73, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, be detained without bond pending sentencing in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Aossey, the founder of Midamar Corporation and Islamic Services of America, both of Cedar Rapids, was convicted by a federal jury on July 13, 2015, of 15 counts of conspiracy, making false statements on export certificates, and wire fraud.  Following a detention hearing on that same date, the Court ordered Aossey held without bond pending further order of Court.

In the written order filed today, the Court found Aossey “must remain detained pending sentencing because he has not established by clear and convincing evidence that he is not likely to flee if released under suitable conditions.”  The Court also noted,

While on pretrial release Defendant has not earned the trust of the court.  Defendant violated the terms of his pretrial release by failing to notify his probation officer of contact with law enforcement, even though the terms of his supervision were discussed with him when he was first released.  His ties to the illegal firearms shipments to Lebanon remain under investigation.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Murphy and was investigated by the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 14-CR-00116-LRR.

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