BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A federal judge in Boston has ordered a man accused of being the mastermind behind an online romance scam to be held without bail.
Prosecutors say that Hassan Abbas pretended to be “James Deere,” a fictional fund manager with a French accent that charmed a Marblehead woman on an online dating app and eventually asked her for money.
Abbas was originally charged in Essex County, and has now been charged in federal court. His attorney said his client is innocent.
Prior to Friday's arraignment, Abbas had been free on bail with a GPS ankle monitor, but the federal judge decided to hold him, saying she is concerned about the defendant—who has Lebanese and Belgian passports—not returning to court.
WBZ NewsRadio's Karyn Regal (@Karynregal) reports
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