Defendant Allegedly Fled the United States to Evade Child Support Obligations

Earlier today, defendant Robert D. Sand, a fugitive wanted pursuant to a federal arrest warrant issued in the Eastern District of New York for failure to pay more than $1 million in court-ordered child support, was arrested by deputies with the United States Marshals Service after landing at Los Angeles International Airport following his deportation from the Republic of the Philippines.¹ Sand’s initial appearance is scheduled this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Bristol at the United States Courthouse in Los Angeles, California. Sand is scheduled to appear on January 16, 2013 ,before the Honorable Joseph F. Bianco at the United States Courthouse located in Central Islip, New York, for arraignment on an indictment that charges him with two counts of failure to pay child support.

The arrest was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Thomas O’Donnell, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office, Office of the Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG-DHHS”) and Charles Dunne, United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York.

According to a complaint filed in federal court on April 8, 2002, the New York State Family Court in Nassau County issued an arrest warrant for Sand on November 22, 2000, following multiple contempt findings against him in child support proceedings. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Sand on April 8, 2002. On September 17, 2009, an indictment was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Sand with two counts of failure to pay child support, and on February 17, 2010, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Sand’s arrest. According to the 2002 complaint, Sand initially relocated to Florida prior to fleeing the United States.

In January 2012, OIG-DHHS launched a child support enforcement web page (http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/child-support-enforcement/) to seek the public’s help in ongoing federal efforts to bring fugitive “deadbeat parents” to justice. Sand was listed on the site as the number 1 “Most Wanted Deadbeat Parent” based upon his child support obligations that allegedly totaled more than $1 million.

Sand was arrested in late November 2012, upon entering the Republic of the Philippines without proper identification documents, and on December 17, 2012, he was deported to Los Angeles, where he was taken into custody by deputies with the United States Marshals Service.

“As alleged, Sand ignored his children and his obligations for over a decade, going so far as to leave the state and ultimately the country to avoid providing support for his children. Parents who repeatedly disobey lawful court orders to pay child support obligations and abscond to avoid the consequences place unfair burdens on custodial parents, children and our society. We will vigorously pursue these individuals and bring them to justice,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the Nassau County Office of Child Support for its assistance in this case.

OIG-DHHS Special Agent in Charge O’Donnell stated, “Mr. Sand allegedly went to great lengths to avoid and evade his child support obligations. It is unfortunate that such efforts were not instead directed towards actually paying the arrearage owed. OIG-DHHS is committed to pursuing absconders with whatever means we have at our disposal.”

U.S. Marshal Dunne stated, “The United States Marshals Service routinely works with all of our law enforcement partners, including the Office of Inspector General-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to apprehend and return fugitives to justice. We work tirelessly to ensure that those who violate the law, from deadbeat dads to international drug traffickers, are held accountable for their actions.”

If convicted, the defendant faces up to two years’ imprisonment for each count.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Allen Bode.

The Defendant:

Name: ROBERT D. SAND
Age: 50

 

 

_____________________________

¹The charges announced today are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

---