Overview
- Thorsen, flown to Atlanta with U.S. Air Marshals on Thursday, returned to U.S. custody after years overseas following his 2011 indictment.
- He appeared in federal court Friday before Magistrate Judge J. Elizabeth McBath and is being held without bail.
- The 2011 case charges 13 counts of wire fraud and 9 counts of money laundering tied to more than $1 million in CDC grant money.
- Prosecutors say he used fake invoices and personal CDC Federal Credit Union accounts to buy an Atlanta home, a Harley-Davidson, and Audi and Honda cars.
- Officials note the grants funded infant‑development studies and say the allegations involve finances as some groups try to cast doubt on vaccine research.