San Diego

A man wanted on charges of defrauding a Virginia bankruptcy court was ordered held without bond Friday by a federal court magistrate who said there was a “very serious” risk that he would flee if released.

David DeFusco, 34, and his wife Annette, 27, were arrested Wednesday in their rented home in Rancho Santa Fe by FBI agents, who searched the house and found thousands of dollars worth of furs, wine, furniture, jewelry and computer equipment that the DeFuscos allegedly moved from their home in Virginia in an attempt conceal the property from bankruptcy officials.

The DeFuscos, who have used several aliases since they moved to California three months ago, also face mail-fraud charges in Texas in connection with their direct-mail solicitation business, which purportedly made false promises of expensive gifts to prospective buyers of time-share resorts. They are under investigation in the state of Washington for a similar operation, according to federal prosecutors.

U. S. Magistrate Irma Gonzalez said Friday that Annette DeFusco, who wept throughout the proceeding, also is a flight risk, but set her bond at $150,000 so that she may care for the couple’s two children. David DeFusco’s father and brother, who were in the courtroom, said they were willing to post Annette DeFusco’s bail.

A hearing on whether to transfer the couple to Virginia to face charges there will be held this month.