Ex-Long Beach Investment Advisor Charged with Jumping Bail

An investment advisor and former Long Beach resident, Thomas Qualls, who fled to Canada before he was convicted of a $900,000 fraud in 2008, was charged with jumping bail in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday.

Qualls, 43, who was extradited last week after he was arrested in Montreal subway station in March 2009, fled the day summations were scheduled before U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry on charges he defrauded customers of his Garden City-based foreign currency business, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, according to Newsday

Irizarry, who ordered Qualls held without bail and set his sentencing for Dec. 19, sarcastically said to him in court Tuesday:

"Welcome back to the United States.”

Qualls’ attorney and a prosecutor said the charge of jumping bail will be resolved by a plea.