WASHINGTON — The founder of LGBTQ+ nonprofit Casa Ruby will spend the weekend in jail, after being on the run abroad for nearly two years. A federal judge delayed ruling on whether Ruby will stay in jail until trial.
Inside the Prettyman Federal Courthouse Friday, Judge Robin Meriweather deliberated over Ruby Corado’s detention hearing. The prosecution made the case for her to remain behind bars and started with the fraud accusations.
According to police, Corado took PPP loans and SBA loans to the tune of the more $700,000. The funds were meant to support her nonprofit, Casa Ruby.
Instead, prosecutors said Corado sent more $300,000 from the Casa Ruby bank account to a personal bank account in El Salvador under her birth name.
Prosecutors also pointed out when allegations of fraud first dropped, Ruby left the D.C. area. She sold her home and headed to El Salvador. She wasn’t seen again until she was arrested Tuesday in Laurel, Maryland.
Corado's defense countered and said those plans had been in the works for years for Ruby to continue her work internationally in her native El Salvador. She returned to the D.C. area when the plans did not work out.
Her defense team said she has family here who will watch her while she awaits trial, so she is not a flight risk.
Both attorneys admitted it is rare for a judge to hold a white-collar defendant in jail while awaiting trial.
Her defense also pointed out, as a trans woman, Corado is kept in the men’s jail. To protect her she has been placed in solitary confinement. Her attorney called this a cruel and unusual way to await a white collar crime trial.
Judge Meriweather seemed to agree, but said she wants every assurance that Corado will not flee to El Salvador again. Judge Meriweather will wait until Tuesday to rule, when its expected Corado’s sister will become her third-party custodian to assure Corado doesn’t flee.
That hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m Tuesday.
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