Imran Awan, who was an aide to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., has been released after being arrested Tuesday on charges of bank fraud. He is not allowed to leave the U.S. while charges against him are pending, according to Politico.
Awan was released under a "high-intensity supervision program," Politico reports, and in the program, he must wear a GPS monitor and keep to a curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. He must surrender his passports and he cannot exit a 50-mile radius from his home in Lorton, Va. He must reappear in court on Aug. 21.
The charges against Awan include attempting to defraud the Congressional Federal Credit Union by getting a $165,000 home equity loan for a rental property— which is against the credit union's policies because the property was not the primary residence of the owner, the website reports.
That money was included in a wire transfer to two individuals in Pakistan, the report noted.
The former aide was arrested at Dulles International Airport in Virginia and pleaded not guilty in a District of Columbia district court. He was set to board a flight to Lahore, Pakistan, Politico reports.
Hina Alvi, Awan's wife, left the U.S. in March for Pakistan with their children, and according to Politico, a court document said federal agents do not believe Awan intended to return to the U.S. if he had been allowed to leave.
An affidavit from FBI agent Brandon Merriman said Alvi had "numerous pieces of luggage" and more than $12,000 in cash with her, according to Politico.
"This is clearly a right-wing media-driven prosecution by a United States Attorney's Office that wants to prosecute people for working while Muslim," Awan's attorney, Chris Gowen, said in an email declaring Awan to be innocent, according to Politico.
"A quick glance at what the government filed in court today confirms the lack of evidence or proof they have against my client," Gowen added.
After the criminal probe was revealed in February, most Democratic legislators cut ties with Awan, but he remained employed by Wasserman Schultz. A spokesman for the congresswoman said Awan was fired Tuesday, according to Politico's report.
Authorities are probing how Awan might have double-billed the House of Representatives for equipment such as computers, iPads, and monitors.
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