In news reports here in Spain, it’s often the case that
apprehended criminals are not identified by name, though sometimes we’re given
his or her initials in a newspaper article. I imagine it was particularly difficult for the
authorities to name a fraudster they caught since they might be wondering which
alias is actually his real name!
Wikipedia commons
The fraudster in question has more than 100 previous convictions and 20
warrants for arrest, but for the last six years the police couldn’t locate
him! The litany of his crimes: fraud,
domestic abuse, slander, libel, assaulting an officer of the law, making
threats, causing injuries, violating a sentence, electricity fraud, identity
theft, harassment, falsifying public documents and failure to turn himself in
to prison. (I’m puzzled by that last one, I must admit! Shouldn’t he be under
arrest and taken to prison?)
A lengthy investigation and a stakeout finally located his house, which was surrounded with security cameras. When
the police raided the place, it seemed empty – but there was a secret hideaway,
a control centre for scanning the grounds. He was found hiding behind a sofa –
nobody knows if he might have been watching an early Dr Who DVD.
His crimes also involve the internet, with numerous fake
profiles on social networks. Some of his profiles stated he was the president
of a computing multinational, a UN inspector and a politician. He had more than
40,000 followers.
He set up web pages that provided cover for his scams. The
fake company websites contained plaudits from other businesses and national
press, also of dubious authenticity.
A certain number of his violent and threatening behaviour
are related to victims who discovered his fraud.
He was rarely seen in public, for obvious reasons.
He’s now in custody.
There’s probably potential for a story in there!
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