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Fugitive accused of embezzling $1m found
The former president of a wine tasting network who allegedly embezzled nearly $1m from the Californian Wine Company has been found hiding in Mexico after months on the run.
Martin Christopher Edwards
According to a report by Decanter.com, FBI agents and Mexican immigration officials arrested Martin Christopher Edwards last week after finding him hiding out in Puerto Vallerta on the Mexican riviera.
The 48-year-old, from Napa in California, has been on the run in Mexico since he was indicted in June 2013 charged with embezzling $900,0000 while working as vice president and general manager of the Winetasting Network.
According to federal prosecutors, Edwards created fraudulent invoices and directed the Winetasting Network, now known as winetasting.com, to pay a total of £575k to Dufrane Compliance Trust between May 2010 and October 2012.
He then withdrew the funds to buy items for his personal use, including a BMW.
He may have chosen to name his fictitious company “Dufrane” after the protagonist in the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, who escapes from prison after nearly two decades by tunnelling through his cell wall with a rock hammer.
Edwards was due to appear appear in court yesterday, 22 January, according to a statement from by the FBI, charged with 23 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
If convicted he could face up to 30 years in prison and fines of £320,000.
Does crime pay?…..,Let’s see?
He stole $900,000, will spend 30 years less tinme off for good behavior so maybve 20 years, where he will be maybe 68 years old. If he invests his stolen funds in an interest bearing account earning say conservatively 3% per year, letr s see how he comes out?
Starting out with $900,000.00 deduct his fine of $500,870.00 leaves him $399,130.00 compounded for 20 years should yield approximately $720,000.. Considering he was fed and cared for all 20 years, he will be discharged with this amou9nt of money in the bank earning him a minimum of $21,600 a year. Notg a bad retirement plan?