"He Has the Money to Flee"

Update: A federal judge in Philadelphia ruled that Russian-American entrepreneur, Andrew Mogilyansky, must remain behind bars while he awaits trial on charges of leading a child-sex ring. U.S. District Judge Mary McLaughlin said a magistrate judge was wrong to grant bail for 38-year-old Mogilyansky, of Richboro, Bucks County.

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A federal magistrate in Philadelphia has ruled that a wealthy Russian-born entrepreneur can be let out of prison while he waits for a trial on international child-sex charges.

38-year-old Andrew Mogilyansky, however, won't be allowed to go home yet, because prosecutors have filed an immediate appeal.

Mogilvansky was charged for traveling from Philly to Russia to have sex with young girls and then set them up on a child prostitution business, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Magistrate Carol Sandra Moore Wells on Wednesday said Mogilyansky can await trial on house arrest, but only if he posts more bail money.

Mogilyansky is a dual citizen who lives in suburban Philadelphia. Prosecutors say he has the money to flee, but defense attorney George Newman says Mogilyansky has strong ties to this area.

If convicted of all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on each count, a lifetime term of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia