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Victims will soon have their day in court: One of WI`s Most Wanted arrested decades later far from Wisconsin
Victims will soon have their day in court: One of WI`s Most Wanted arrested decades later far from Wisconsin
WAUKESHA COUNTY (WITI) -- One of Wisconsin's Most Wanted has been captured in a case that goes back nearly two decades! He was found halfway across the world! Law enforcement officials say he once bragged he was too smart to get caught.
Antonius Ceulen
"We're very successful at finding wanted people, wherever they flee," U.S. Marshal Kevin Carr said.
A lengthy criminal complaint details a complex scam that dates back nearly 20 years.
U.S. Marshals have been looking for Antonius Ceulen for years. He's a man charged with scamming people in Waukesha County out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
60-year-old Ceulen was captured Sunday, March 8th far from the Dairy State.
"He was located at his apartment in a city just outside of Bangkok. It's extremely gratifying to see all of your labors come to fruition," Carr said.
Thai immigration police snapped a photo with Ceulen after making the arrest.
"Eventually we will go to Bangkok and bring Mr. Ceulen back to Wisconsin," Carr said.
A criminal complaint describes how Ceulen scammed investors out of their money -- from 1996 to 1997.
"From $2,500 to $100,000," Carr said.
More than a decade ago, two men -- Terry Cattell and Nathan Genrich were convicted of working for Ceulen. The men collected money from investors, claiming they were trying to build and run mobile home parks, but the loans were never repaid.
Meanwhile, Ceulen has been living abroad.
"My investigator Doug Bachert has been working tirelessly for ten years trying to bring this criminal to justice," Carr said.
U.S. Marshals say it wasn't just people in Waukesha County who were involved in this case.
"The total amount of the fraud that he is believed to have committed exceeds or is approximately $130,000,000," Carr said.
Ceulen will be extradited to Wisconsin.
"Some of the people who were victimized by Mr. Ceulen are going to have their day in court," Carr said.