|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yolanda Tolentino Ricaforte is wanted for her alleged involvement in an illegal gambling operation which began in approximately 1998 in the Republic of the Philippines. Ricaforte and an accomplice were allegedly co-conspirators with former Philippine President, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, who collected tens of millions of dollars in illegal gambling payoffs during his 31 months in office. For approximately two years, Ricaforte allegedly audited the collection and disbursement of the illegal payoffs to Estrada, and kept a ledger in which the individuals making payments to Estrada were given aliases. Ricaforte is also accused of opening several bank accounts in her name, which were used to deposit the illegal payoffs. Her accomplice allegedly funneled the payoffs and other unrelated illegal kickbacks to Estrada. In early 2001, Ricaforte and her accomplice separately fled the Philippines after Estrada was removed from office. In approximately April of 2001, Estrada, Ricaforte, her accomplice, and others were charged in the Philippines with the crime of "Plunder," which is defined under Philippine law as the accumulation of "...ill-gotten wealth through a combination or series of overt or criminal acts...." Estrada is currently being detained in the Philippines and is awaiting trial. The Government of the Philippines requested the assistance of the United States Government with the arrest and extradition of Ricaforte and her accomplice. On November 25, 2001, Ricaforte's accomplice was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a decision regarding the extradition of Ricaforte's accomplice from the United States is still pending. A warrant was issued for Ricaforte's arrest on December 6, 2001, pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 3184, "Fugitives from Foreign Country to United States." However, Ricaforte's whereabouts remain unknown. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PERSON, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FBI OFFICE OR THE NEAREST PHILIPPINE OR AMERICAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[ Los Angeles Field Office ] [ August Fugitives ] [ Fugitives ] [ FBI Home Page ] [ FBI Field Offices ] |