Judge: American wed to Idi Amin's granddaughter stays jailed

An American deported from Uganda and charged in an immense counterfeiting scheme in that African nation is a “real and major flight risk” and will remain in jail until he stands trial.

That's the ruling by a federal judge in Pittsburgh who rejected a request that Ryan Gustafson be released on bond. Gustafson's attorney didn't immediately return messages seeking comment and asking whether he'll appeal.

Gustafson, 28, has been charged with printing at least $1.4 million in fake U.S. currency in Uganda through Community-X, an encrypted Internet site Gustafson allegedly started that enabled users to remain anonymous. He has pleaded not guilty.

Gustafson is married to Sherry Amin Gustafson, granddaughter of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shardul S. Desai said in a court document filed in December. Amin was the commander of Uganda's military when he seized power in 1971 and began mass killings of people he perceived as supporting his opponents. Estimates vary, but most experts believe his forces killed about 300,000 people during an eight-year reign.

Gustafson's father-in-law, Taban Amin, is a high-ranking Ugandan official.

Born in Montana, Gustafson lived as an adult in Texas and Colorado, where he has three felony convictions for forgery, prosecutors said.

Despite those ties to the United States, his missionary parents are living in Rwanda, and he's spent most of his life in Africa, Desai said.

“Defendant is a serious risk of flight,” Desai said. “He has previously failed to appear in court while living in Colorado, and he has previously failed to comply with the terms and conditions of his sentence.”

Gustafson was indicted in Western Pennsylvania because roughly $400,000 in bogus bills were sold and shipped to the United States, where they were passed, including some in the Pittsburgh area.