A fugitive hedge fund manager charged with frauding investors surrendered to police in Southwick, Mass., Wednesday morning, ending a weeks-long manhunt for the man who faked his own death to avoid a 20-year prison sentence.
Samuel Israel, 48 years old, surrendered to police at 9:30 am Wednesday morning.
Police in Southwick, which is about two hours from Boston, declined to comment further on the case, and referred all calls to the U.S. marshall's office.
Israel disappeared on June 9, the day he was scheduled to begin serving his prison term for fraud.
It was initially thought that Israel plunged to his death after his car was found on the Bear Mountain Bridge in New York with the words "suicide is painless" written in the hood. When no body was found beneath the 150-foot-high bridge, authorities believed Israel had staged another scam.
Later, police arrested his girlfriend Debra Ryan and charged her with helping him to elude his prison sentence.
Israel, 48, told a judge that the idea of spending 20 years in prison was so distasteful he had considered suicide. But he eventually decided: "I have to take responsibility for my actions no matter what the consequences."
That sentiment didn't last long. Within two months, federal investigators said, Israel settled on life as a fugitive.
Once arrested, Ryan admitted she had helped him pack a big white recreational vehicle with his belongings -- and a motor scooter. A picture of the RV was released, along with its license plate number. The U.S. marshals office said Israel might be spotted at "RV parks, campgrounds or highway rest areas."
© 2008 CNBC.com
http://www.cnbc.com/id/25495282
Samuel Israel, 48 years old, surrendered to police at 9:30 am Wednesday morning.
Police in Southwick, which is about two hours from Boston, declined to comment further on the case, and referred all calls to the U.S. marshall's office.
Israel disappeared on June 9, the day he was scheduled to begin serving his prison term for fraud.
It was initially thought that Israel plunged to his death after his car was found on the Bear Mountain Bridge in New York with the words "suicide is painless" written in the hood. When no body was found beneath the 150-foot-high bridge, authorities believed Israel had staged another scam.
Later, police arrested his girlfriend Debra Ryan and charged her with helping him to elude his prison sentence.
Israel, 48, told a judge that the idea of spending 20 years in prison was so distasteful he had considered suicide. But he eventually decided: "I have to take responsibility for my actions no matter what the consequences."
That sentiment didn't last long. Within two months, federal investigators said, Israel settled on life as a fugitive.
Once arrested, Ryan admitted she had helped him pack a big white recreational vehicle with his belongings -- and a motor scooter. A picture of the RV was released, along with its license plate number. The U.S. marshals office said Israel might be spotted at "RV parks, campgrounds or highway rest areas."
© 2008 CNBC.com
http://www.cnbc.com/id/25495282
