Yassine case suspect arrested in Fla.

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Karim Faiq, one of the suspects arrested as part of the Yassine nightclub raids, was arrested in Miami last month after being arrested and deported by Honduran authorities.

• Photos: Sketches during Mike, Hadi and Steve Yassine's trial

Police said the 29-year-old Manor resident fled the country following his initial appearance in March, when he was released on bail.

Faiq disappeared in April after reportedly failing a drug test, a condition of his bond. Faiq admitted to doing cocaine at an April 17 court-ordered drug test, according to court documents.

Authorities issued an arrest warrant on May 2, and the FBI tracked Faiq to Miami and arrested him on Oct. 18.

Faiq is charged with conspiracy to distribute, though a trial date has not been set. He awaits transfer to the Western District of Texas, where he faces two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one substantive count of distribution of cocaine.

According to U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks' calendar, Nizar Hakiki is the next person scheduled for trial in the Yassine case. Jury selection for that begins Nov. 26.

Latest update in Yassine nightclub raid cases

On the day of Faiq's arrest, Steve Yassine pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.

The sentence was the result of an agreement between Steve Yassine and federal prosecutors stemming from the raid of several downtown bars owned by Steve, Mike and Hadi Yassine.

Steve Yassine's attorney, Stephen Orr, said his client pleaded guilty to a drug-distribution charge and will be deported after he serves his sentence. Yassine is a citizen of the Ivory Coast.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office Western Disctrict of Texas, Steve Yassine admitted that on Jan. 11, 2008, he assisted others, including 29-year-old Amar Araf, in the sale of approximately 3/4 of a kilogram of cocaine at a gas station on Cameron Road in Austin. Steve Yassine also admitted that he participated in the negotiations for the price of the cocaine and counted the money during the transaction.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prison term and subsequent deportation, the government will request dismissal of all remaining charges against Steve Yassine at sentencing.

Mike Yassine and Hadi Yassine were convicted of drug and money-laundering charges and are awaiting sentences.

Mike Yassine, meanwhile, was arraigned on his federal tax fraud indictment on Friday before Judge Andrew Austin, who had previously granted Mike Yassine a continuance of his detention hearing so that he could get a lawyer.

An indictment filed Oct. 3 charges Mike Yassine three counts of filing a false income tax return -- under-reporting his earning from his downtown nightclubs in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Authorities allege he understated his gross receipts from his various nightclubs by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison per tax count.

Mike, Steve and Hadi Yassine were among 10 people rounded up in a raid of Sixth Street nightclubs in late March in the culmination of an investigation that started in 2007. The clubs raided were Treasure Island Bar, Kiss & Fly, Pure and Fuel -- each owned by Yassine Enterprises.

People arrested in FBI raid and list of charges

Hussein Ali Yassine, also known as "Mike"

• conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
• three counts of money laundering

Mohammed Ali Yassine, also known as "Steve," "Steve Austin" and "Hammudih"

• money laundering
• two counts of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• two counts of distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine
• transferring a firearm knowing it is to be used in a drug trafficking crime

Hadi Ali Yassine

• conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
• two counts of money laundering

Marisse Marthe Ruales, also known as " Madi," executive assistant to Yassine brothers

• conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
• four counts of money laundering

Alejandro Melendrez, also known as "Alex" and "Cueta"

• two counts of distribution of cocaine

Amar Thabet Araf

• conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine

Sami Derder, general manager of Roial

• conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• distribution of cocaine

Edgar Orsini

• conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• distribution of cocaine

Nizar Hakiki, also known as "Nino"

• conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine
• transferring a firearm knowing it is to be used in a drug trafficking crime

Karim Faiq

• conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine
• conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine