Illinois man accused of defrauding Clear Lake victim of $245,000 pleads not guilty

CLEAR LAKE — An Illinois man accused of defrauding a victim in Clear Lake of $245,000 has pleaded not guilty.

A criminal complaint filed by the Clear Lake Police Department says that on May 30th, a 78-year-old victim was contacted by individuals who falsely claimed to represent the federal government. The individuals used deception to convince the victim that a federal warrant would be issued for their arrest if they did not comply.

Believing the threats to be true, the victim was coerced into purchasing $245,000 worth of gold bars, and then was instructed to transfer them in person to someone they were led to believe was a federal agent at his residence. On that date, the victim received a password from the defendant, which was intended to confirm his identity as a federal agent. The defendant then took possession of the gold bars, defrauding the victim.

26-year-old Shoaib Ahmed of Charleston Illinois was arrested in September in Douglas County Illinois on a warrant for first-degree theft against an older individual over $10,000, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

He was due in Cerro Gordo County District Court today for an arraignment hearing, but court records show he filed a written plea of not guilty to the charge on Wednesday. No trial date has been set.

Ahmed remains in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $50,000 cash-only bond.