The Magistrate Judge set his trial for March 23, 2020.
Federal prosecutors requested in court Friday that deGraft-Johnson be detained until his trial, saying the doctor poses a “serious risk of flight.”
Prosecutors contend deGraft-Johnson is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Ghana. They say he has “the motive, the means and the opportunity to flee from the United States to Ghana.”
According to prosecutors, he has two passports, both showing that he has dual citizenship for the United States and Ghana.
In court, prosecutors said deGraft-Johnson’s wife is currently applying for a professional license in Ghana. They claim this is additional evidence that he may flee there.
Prosecutors detailed 19 bank accounts and two credit card accounts tied to Degraft-Johnson and HVINF. Prosecutors say the government’s “preliminary financial analysis has determined that Dr. deGraft-Johnson has wired at least approximately $1.8 million in international wire transfers, primarily to persons or entities in Ghana.”
Prosecutors also contend that deGraft-Johnson has stated his ultimate long-term professional goal is “to be the President of Ghana.”
Prosecutors point out a family member was the vice president of Ghana in the 1980s.
“It therefore seems likely that Defendant may have some political influence in Ghana,” prosecutors wrote.
One witness called to the stand Friday was deGraft-Johnson’s younger brother, who flew in from Houston. He testified that he and his brother were raised to believe that “fair is fair.”
While on the stand, he described deGraft-Johnson’s efforts to tutor and support him. He also testified that he and his brother have created a chain of burger restaurants, similar to a McDonald’s, in Ghana.
He said on the stand that their goal was to export that company to America and make life better for those in Ghana.
The doctor’s brother went on to say neither one of them would ever want to live in Ghana.
Court documents indicate deGraft-Johnson deposited more than $32 million in health care funds into his bank account between November 2015 and August 2019. Prosecutors say that the majority of funds were transferred to other accounts.
A search of his Tallahassee office on Thursday yielded more than $25,000 in cash and a bag with a pre-paid cell phone and several firearms, court documents say.
At one point, deGraft-Johnson told federal agents he had no cash that was not in a bank, but agents found $40,000 cash at one of his residences.
“This suggests that there may be other cash hoards in any of Defendant’s five other residences,” prosecutors wrote.
The doctor’s other residences are located in Miami, Manhattan, Hampton and Texas, prosecutors said in court.
Prosecutors also detailed lavish spending, including millions spent on Tiffany and Cartier jewelry, two Mercedes, and the recent leases of a Ferrari and a Lamborghini.
Prosecutors also said he has three drivers licences, all listing his address in Miami.
Credit: wctv.tv
