INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT FOR CONVICTED SWINDLER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303150006-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: March 11, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303150006-5
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
11 March 1985
INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT FOR CONVICTED SWINDLER
BY ANDREW BLUM
vJHITE PLAINS, N.Y.
The lawyer for a convicted swindler who lured renegade CIA agent Edwin
Wilson into a federal trap and claimed to be huntimg Robert Vesco and ex-Nazi
Josef Mengele, said Monday his client would never be captured.
Ernest Keiser, 65, vanished Jan. 31, 12 days after he was convicted of grand
larceny in a phony $415,000 Florida land deal. His wife, Bahira, faces perjury
and is also a fugitive.
Keiser helped lure Wilson from Libya to the United States in 1982 with the
same property investment scam. Wilson, since sentenced to over 60 years in jail
for arms smuggling, allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill Keiser.
Keiser also claimed to be working to find fugitive financier Vesco and
Mengele.
Authorities have mounted an international manhunt for Kiser, but his
attorney, William Ar :
captured, even if he was located.
''He'll be located but not caught,'' Aronwald said. He refused to elaborated.
Keiser was convicted of swindling Mamaroneck investor Jack Farris in the
Florida land deal. Prosecutors said Keiser had only an option to buy the
property.
Sentencing was delayed last month when authorities told Judge Gerard Delaney
there was a chance of apprehending Keiser.
''We do have reason to believe there is a possibility of apprehending him,''
said prosecutor Tony Berk.
Federal authorities said Monday they have no new leads on the couple's
whereabouts.
Delaney indicated he would fine Keiser $830,000, twice the amount involved in
the fraudulent land deal.
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303150006-5