LawFuel.com Legal Newswire – MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, JOSEPH R. GUCCIONE, the United
States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, and MARK J.
MERSHON, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field
Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced
that DEBRA RYAN was arrested today on a charge that she aided and
abetted Samuel Israel III’s failure to surrender to serve his
federal sentence on June 9th.
RYAN was charged in a one-count Complaint with
violating Title 18, United States Code, Sections 3146 and 2, by
aiding and abetting Israel, the convicted former Chief Executive
Officer of the now-collapsed Bayou Hedge Funds, in his failure to
surrender to serve a twenty year sentence imposed by District
Court Judge Colleen McMahon.
According to the Complaint, on numerous occasions
between June 9, 2008 and June 19, 2008, during interviews with
law enforcement officers who were investigating whether Israel
had committed suicide or had fled, RYAN said that she had been
residing with Israel for the past several years, but denied any
knowledge of Israel’s whereabouts. RYAN also said that she knew
that Israel was supposed to surrender to begin serving his
sentence on June 9, 2008. On or about June 10, 2008, RYAN told
law enforcement officers with the New York State Police that she
had located a suicide note written by Israel and provided the
note to the New York State Police.
During an interview with RYAN today, RYAN admitted to
law enforcement officers that, on or about June 7, 2008, she met
Israel at an auto repair shop in the vicinity of Bedford, New
York, to help him attach a motor scooter to a hydraulic lift on
the back of a recreational vehicle (the “RV”) and that on or
about June 8, 2008, RYAN helped Israel pack the RV with Israel’s
belongings. RYAN also disclosed that early in the morning on
June 9, 2008, Israel woke her up and told her that he needed her
help. Shortly thereafter, according to RYAN, she, in her own
car, accompanied Israel, who was driving the RV, to a rest area
off of Interstate 684, near the intersection of Interstate 684
and Interstate 84. RYAN further stated that after Israel parked
the RV in the parking lot of the rest area, RYAN drove Israel
back to their home. Israel failed to surrender later that day.
RYAN was presented late today before Chief United
States Magistrate LISA MARGARET SMITH in White Plains federal
court. She was released on a $75,000 bond, to be secured by a cosigner,
and placed under the supervision of Pre-trial Services.
Her next court date was scheduled for July 11, 2008, at 9 a.m.
If convicted, RYAN faces a maximum sentence of 10 years
in prison.
Mr. GARCIA said the investigation is continuing.
Mr. GARCIA praised the efforts of the U.S. Marshals
Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York
State Police.
Assistant United States Attorneys SARAH R. KRISSOFF and
MARGERY B. FEINZIG are in charge of the criminal prosecution.
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