John Ruffo

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John Ruffo, born November 26, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York, is a former business executive and con artist who disappeared in 1998. In the early 1990s, he led a scheme with Edward J. Reiners called “Project Star,” a fake plan to obtain bank loans for a supposed Phillip Morris smokeless-cigarettes project. They forged documents and used confidential agreements to convince banks, with Ruffo’s company, Consolidated Computer Services (CCS), providing hardware and services. The lie brought in over $350 million in loans, with about $21 million unaccounted for.

Ruffo faced a 150-count indictment for bank fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy and was sentenced to 17 years in prison. On November 9, 1998, the day he was to begin serving his sentence, he failed to turn himself in. Surveillance footage showed him withdrawing cash from an ATM that afternoon, and he has not been seen since. His car was found abandoned at JFK Airport. Following his disappearance, several relatives’ homes were seized to secure bond collateral.

There were reported sightings, including in Duncan, Oklahoma, in 2001, but he was not captured. Authorities believe he may still have access to overseas funds and use new identities. Ruffo remains at large and is on the U.S. Marshals Service’s 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture.