A former Ohio state deputy treasurer who fled to Pakistan after pleading guilty to bribery and money laundering charges last year has been sentenced to 15 years in a U.S. prison.
The U.S. Justice Department said Monday 40-year-old Amer Ahmad is currently in Pakistani custody pending an extradition request from the United States government.
According to a Justice Department statement, Ahmad, from January 2009 through January 2011, used his position as deputy treasurer to "direct official state of Ohio business" to a securities broker in exchange for bribes.
He abruptly resigned as Chicago comptroller in July 2013 and was indicted by a federal grand jury weeks later.
Ahmad worked for two Democratic treasurers in Ohio and then for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who was White House Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama from January 20, 2009 until October 1, 2010.
Ahmad's crimes pre-dated his service to Mayor Emanuel.
Ahmad was arrested in Pakistan in April holding a forged Mexican passport, a fraudulent Pakistani birth certificate, a false Pakistani visa and $175,000. He remains jailed there on immigration violations.
