C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers in Western New York Arrest Federal Fugitive

(Thursday, August 13, 2009)

Niagara Falls, N.Y. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the apprehension of a United States permanent resident wanted in California for felony counts of Fraud and Larceny.

On August 13, CBP officers at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, N.Y., received notification from Canada Border Services Agency that Amir Hossein Rashidifar, a 25-year-old U.S. permanent resident born in Iran, was being returned to U.S. authorities.

Rashidifar fled to Canada sometime in May 2009 when he learned he and his business were being investigated by federal authorities. Rashidifar was arrested on July 10, in Toronto, Ontario by investigators from the Hamilton/Niagara Regional Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Immigration and Passport Unit for importing false documents. Rashidifar had been living under a false identity in the Toronto area when he was detected by Canadian authorities attempting to receive false documents mailed to him from Chicago.

Upon notification, CBP officers performed record checks and verified that Rashidifar was the subject of a U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Securities Service warrant for Passport Fraud and is also wanted on nine felony counts of larceny out of San Jose, Calif. Rashidifar formerly operated a business named Legal Support Services in San Jose, Calif. The business offered foreclosure prevention services to clients on the brink of foreclosure. Rashidifar allegedly received numerous payments from clients, but never completed any services.

Rashidifar was returned to the United States today by Canada Border Services Agency and arrested by CBP officers. Upon arrest, Rashidifar was turned over to the custody of Diplomatic Security Service agents, pending extradition to California.

“It appears that Rashidifar fled the United States in an attempt to avoid the investigation of his businessâ€