An Aussie who’s been on the run from the FBI for almost 20 years has been spotted in Sydney “living in a family environment”.
Sydney-born Geoffrey John Busch landed on the FBI’s Most Wanted List for his alleged involvement in a scheme intending to “defraud victim investors in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,” from September 2002 to early 2006.
Per the FBI, the 78-year-old is accused of obtaining USD$12 million (AUD$19 million) in proceeds from victim investors during this scheme.
In 2007, Busch was indicted by a grand jury in Florida and was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, ABC News reports.
According to the publication, the FBI issued a new plea for any information surrounding Busch’s whereabouts in December.
Well now, it appears that Busch has been busted living a life in Sydney.
According to ABC News, they have “tracked down” the alleged fraudster in the Sutherland Shire in Sydney’s south, where he denied any involvement in ripping off investors or evading US authorities.
“I’m not avoiding arrest, I’ve done nothing wrong — it’s a travesty,” he told the publication.
“I didn’t rip off any investors at all. I was implicated in something I didn’t have any involvement in.”
He also told the publication that he was aware of the FBI’s latest alert and claimed he wasn’t hiding from authorities.
“I’ve been living. I’ve been living in a family environment,” Busch added.
How did Geoffrey John Busch end up on the FBI’s Most Wanted List?
As mentioned earlier, Busch has been accused of taking part in an investment scam in which he allegedly obtained USD$12 million from victim investors.
Furthermore, Busch is accused of using the money to buy a USD$500,000 Riviera 43 yacht, paying off his son’s criminal defence legal bills that added up to USD$21,300 and paying off his personal debt of USD$40,000, ABC News reports.
When the FBI issued a federal warrant for Busch in 2007, the Australian government was informed. Alongside Bursch, US man Ray Allen Benton also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the same scheme.
In court documents obtained by the publication, Benton and Busch were listed as “co-conspirators”.
Benton was sentenced to five years in prison, which was then reduced to three.
Can Geoffrey John Busch be extradited to the US?
Speaking to ABC News, criminal defence lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson said it was “likely the US had not made an extradition request” and that the FBI knew where he was.
After all, it appears on the FBI website that he’s “believed to be residing in Australia”.
An unnamed “former senior political figure” also told the publication that it would be “highly unusual” if Australia didn’t pull through in an extradition if it was requested, considering it would come from a “friendly” country (the US).
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