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Ex-NorCal Muslim leader arrested in Mexico

He was convicted in 2010 of defrauding several credit card companies of a combined $100,000

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — A once prominent Northern California Muslim religious leader recently released from prison after serving two years for a credit card fraud conviction has been taken back into federal custody and has made a brief court appearance.

FBI spokesman Julianne Sohn said Monday that Rafic Labboun was arrested in Mexico over the weekend on suspicion he violated terms of probation. He was transported to a prison in Houston and appeared in court Monday.

A judge ordered Labboun be returned to the San Jose division of the Northern District of California.

Labboun was convicted in 2010 of defrauding several credit card companies of a combined $100,000.

Court records show Labboun was born in Beirut and immigrated to the United States in 1986. He holds duel U.S. and Lebanese citizenship.

He was released from prison in June.