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Man wanted in $35M Ponzi scheme tries to flee FBI on underwater sea scooter
By Tamar Lapin
November 17, 2020 | 10:40pm
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Lake Shasta, where the suspect attempted his underwater escape. Shutterstock
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He’s more “swim risk” than flight risk.
A California man wanted in an alleged $35 million Ponzi scheme tried to flee FBI agents — by hopping on an underwater “sea scooter” and taking it into a frigid lake, authorities said.
First, 44-year-old Matthew Piercey jumped into a pickup truck when agents went to arrest him on Monday, leading them on a wild chase before eventually abandoning the vehicle on the shores of Lake Shasta, according to federal prosecutors in California.
He then grabbed a Yamaha sea scooter — a motorized submersible device that pulls users at about 4 mph — and took it into the cold waters, staying there for about 25 minutes, the Sacramento Bee reported.
“Piercey spent some time out of sight underwater where law enforcement could only see bubbles,” prosecutors wrote in court documents, describing him as a flight risk.
He was taken away in handcuffs after resurfacing.
Piercey was indicted by a grand jury last week for allegedly bilking his investors into giving $35 million to his companies Family Wealth Legacy and Zolla.
Some of his alleged victims were fellow parishioners of the Bethel megachurch in Redding, a source told the Bee.
His arraignment on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering and witness tampering was scheduled for Tuesday. If convicted, Piercey faces 20 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
https://nypost.com/2020/11/17/35m-ponzi-scheme-suspect-tries-to-flee-fbi-on-underwater-sea-scooter/
Man wanted in $35M Ponzi scheme tries to flee FBI on underwater sea scooter
By Tamar Lapin
November 17, 2020 | 10:40pm
Enlarge Image
Lake Shasta, where the suspect attempted his underwater escape. Shutterstock
More On:
california
LA County announces new COVID-19 restrictions, including business curfew
LA duo charged with voter fraud in bid to win mayoral election
Residents from one left-leaning state flock to Georgia to help Democrats
Woman left wheelchair-bound after contracting COVID-19 after BLM protest: reports
He’s more “swim risk” than flight risk.
A California man wanted in an alleged $35 million Ponzi scheme tried to flee FBI agents — by hopping on an underwater “sea scooter” and taking it into a frigid lake, authorities said.
First, 44-year-old Matthew Piercey jumped into a pickup truck when agents went to arrest him on Monday, leading them on a wild chase before eventually abandoning the vehicle on the shores of Lake Shasta, according to federal prosecutors in California.
He then grabbed a Yamaha sea scooter — a motorized submersible device that pulls users at about 4 mph — and took it into the cold waters, staying there for about 25 minutes, the Sacramento Bee reported.
“Piercey spent some time out of sight underwater where law enforcement could only see bubbles,” prosecutors wrote in court documents, describing him as a flight risk.
He was taken away in handcuffs after resurfacing.
Piercey was indicted by a grand jury last week for allegedly bilking his investors into giving $35 million to his companies Family Wealth Legacy and Zolla.
Some of his alleged victims were fellow parishioners of the Bethel megachurch in Redding, a source told the Bee.
His arraignment on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering and witness tampering was scheduled for Tuesday. If convicted, Piercey faces 20 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
https://nypost.com/2020/11/17/35m-ponzi-scheme-suspect-tries-to-flee-fbi-on-underwater-sea-scooter/
