Apollo Nida, the husband of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member Phaedra Parks, was arrested in January by the federal government for bank fraud and identity theft. He is now trying to figure out a way to avoid a trial through a plea deal.
In documents procured by Radaronline filed last week, "Counsel for Mr. Nida and counsel for the government have been engaged in discussions aimed at resolving this matter without a trial since February 10, 2014. They are still in the process of investigating additional facts and negotiating a resolution."
A pre-trial hearing had been originally scheduled last month. On March 14, Nida's attorney requested a second continuance through April 25. The government has filed a complaint against him but has yet to file an indictment.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Gerrilyn Brill granted the motion soon after: "The Government shall have until April 23, 2014, to indict or otherwise formally charge the Defendant in this case. Failure to do so by that time will result in the dismissal of the above-styled complaint."
Nida, based on the testimony of a woman he worked with Gayla St. Julien and Nida's computer the feds procured, created fake debt-collection businesses in order to "illicitly obtain personal identifying information of individuals." St. Julien would take on these fake identities and deposit fraudulent auto loan checks, stolen U.S. Treasury checks, stolen retirement checks issued to Delta Airlines employees and checks in the name of real people owed unclaimed property, according to the original criminal complaint.
The complain provided a sampling of bank accounts totaling about $3 million tied to alleged fraudulent activities.
Nida allegedly has been working these schemes since 2009, soon after he was released from prison for a prior racketeering case.
Nida has been a major player in this season's show but his story line has had nothing to do with his business. Rather, it has been about his flirtations with another cast member Kenya Moore. He also was involved in a physical fight with a friend of Moore's.
Earlier this month, "Real Housewives of New Jersey" members Teresa and Joe Giudice pled guilty in a plea deal in a case of bankruptcy fraud, wire fraud and failure to pay taxes that will result in jail time for both.
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