The man believed to be the filmmaker behind the controversial anti-Muslim film that has sparked rioting in the Middle East is a twice-convicted felon who has served time in federal prison.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula of Cerritos was convicted in 1997 of possession of ephedrine and hydriodic acid, materials commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine, according to court records.

Authorities testified that they found $45,000 of cash in a paper bag when they pulled over Nakoula. A deputy testified that Nakoula was transporting pills from a storage facility in Downey to Lake Elsinore.

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And in 2010, he was convicted of bank fraud after engaging in a scheme to create fake identities and open credit cards in those names, then draw tens of thousands of dollars from the phony accounts. He was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison but was released early in June 2011.

Nakoula has denied being the filmmaker, according to the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles. Bishop Serapion said Nakoula called him Thursday morning and "denied completely any involvement."

The bishop said Nakoula called the reports of his connection to the film "a political thing" and also suggested that the media might have been confused.

Since an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya on Tuesday that killed a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans, Nakoula has been reclusive and has refused to answer the door of the four-bedroom home where he lives.