Cerritos-Based Anti-Muslim Filmmaker to Appear in Court Wednesday

The Cerritos-based filmmaker linked to an anti-Islam film that sparked violent protests in the Muslim world is expected to face a federal judge Wednesday on allegations of violating his probation in a 2010 bank fraud case.

Mark Basseley Youssef, 55, who previously used the name Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, is scheduled to go before U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder on Oct. 10 for a preliminary probation-revocation hearing under tight security.

Like his initial hearing in the case on Sept. 27, the courtroom will be closed to the public, but members of the media will be allowed to view the proceeding on video from a separate building.

Youssef is facing eight allegations of violating his probation, including making false statements to probation officers and using at least three aliases. The terms of Youssef's 2011 release from prison in the fraud case do not allow him to use alternate identities without the authorization of his probation officer.

A federal magistrate judge last month ordered Youssef held without bail, deeming him a flight risk and a danger to the community.

"The court has a lack of trust in this defendant," U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne Segal said at the hearing.

Before he was arrested, Youssef and his family, who had lived in their Cerritos home for at least 10 years, had been in hiding since violence erupted in response to a YouTube trailer for his film "Innocence of Muslims," which portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a womanizer and child abuser. Protests apparently ignited by the video played a role in mob violence in Libya in which U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

Youssef pleaded no contest in 2010 to bank fraud charges for using phony Social Security numbers to open bank and credit card accounts, according to court documents. He was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and ordered not to use computers or the Internet for five years without prior authorization.

During last month's court hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Dugdale said Youssef's use of aliases is "part of a lengthy pattern of deception."

The prosecutor also said "there was real harm done in this case," referring to the release of the "Innocence of Muslims" clip.

Youssef's attorney, Steve Seiden, had argued unsuccessfully for a $10,000 bail amount for his client.

Federal probation officers have recommended that Youssef be sentenced to two years in prison.

- City News Service contributed to this report.

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Click here to watch Patch video of Nakoula B. Nakuola being escorted from his Cerritos residence. 

Also previously on Patch:

• UPDATED: Cerritos Man Linked to Anti-Muslim Film Arrested for Allegedly Violating Probation
• Nakoula Family Leaves Cerritos Home In Darkness With Plans Never to Return
• Cerritos Home Tied to Maker of Anti-Islamist Film
• WATCH: Worldwide Media Attention Prompts Cerritos Sheriff's to Monitor Controversial Filmmaker's Home
• World's Eyes Glued to Cerritos Residence as Anti-Islam Filmmaker Remains in Hiding
• Attorneys Consult With Nakoula Inside His Cerritos Home
• WATCH: Cerritos Sheriff's Deputies Escort Embattled Anti-Islam Filmmaker Out of Home Saturday
• PHOTO GALLERY: Cerritos Resident Linked to Anti-Islamic Film Leaves His Home
• Coptic Christians in the Bay Area React to Anti-Muslim Film