Scottish securities broker has been added to the FBI's "most wanted" list for his suspected involvement in a precious metals scam.
James Ward, 65, from Glasgow, is alleged to taken $400,000 (£314,000) from would-be investors in gold, silver and platinum.
The FBI say 12 or more people parted with money over a three year period, but no precious metals were ever supplied.
He went on the run after being charged in Florida with wire fraud in 2012, following the allegedly fraudulent transactions which took place between September 2007 and March 2010.
His Wanted poster on the FBI website describes him as 5' 8" and weighing 11 stone. It says his hair is blond but warns "may change his hair color frequently". Investigators said: "Ward allegedly operated an entity called Kastle & Hawk, Inc., which solicited investors to buy precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum on a leveraged basis. "Instead of investing the approximately $400,000 Ward received from at least 12 investors, Ward allegedly used the money for his own personal use and benefit. "No precious metals were ever acquired for investors." The agency added that Mr Ward, who has spent time living in Miami Beach, Florida, may travel to the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI or the American Embassy. He is the second Scottish-born alleged fraudster to be added to the American list in three years. In 2015, Afzal Khan, originally from Edinburgh, was named among the Bureau's Most Wanted for an allegedly fraudulent activity carried out while he ran a luxury car dealership in New Jersey.
The FBI alleges one financial institution was left exposed to more than $1.7m in loans, and that 75 further victims have been identified. A reward of $20,000 is still offered for information leading to the arrest of Khan, 36, who is described as 5'10" with a scar on his right arm, and who has ties to the United Arab Emirates, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan.
Telegraph