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A federal drug fugitive is in custody in Florida after spending 30 years on the lam, authorities say.
Ian Jackson MacDonald, a 72-year-old Canadian citizen, had been hiding in the open - running a business in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle and living in nearby Avella, Pa., WTOV-TV in Wheeling, W.Va., reported. He was arrested by federal marshals Tuesday in Homosassa, Fla.
MacDonald had been wanted since 1980 when he escaped after being arrested on drug-trafficking charges, Pittsburgh's WPXI-TV reported. He was known as Jack Hunter at the time.
WTOV-TV said MacDonald was accused of smuggling 500 pounds of marijuana into the United States from Canada but made his getaway by feigning illness.
"He was in the hospital because he faked a heart attack in prison," U.S. Marshal Chad Simpson told WTOV-TV. "He was able to convince a contract guard at the hospital to remove his leg restraints off the bed. He went to take a shower. The guard says he was gone for a minute and he escaped."
Hunter allegedly changed his name to MacDonald and eventually wound up running a used-appliance store in Brooke County, W.Va. He closed his shop, 19th Hole Used Appliances, and went south, where authorities caught up with him. He was being held in a Miami jail.
"It's really surprising that someone can live in your neighborhood for that long undetected," local resident Jim Lyle said.
News Hawk: MedicalNeed 420 MAGAZINE
Source: upi.com
Contact:About United Press International | About UPI
Copyright: 2011 United Press International, Inc.
Website: Man on lam 30 years caught - UPI.com
Ian Jackson MacDonald, a 72-year-old Canadian citizen, had been hiding in the open - running a business in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle and living in nearby Avella, Pa., WTOV-TV in Wheeling, W.Va., reported. He was arrested by federal marshals Tuesday in Homosassa, Fla.
MacDonald had been wanted since 1980 when he escaped after being arrested on drug-trafficking charges, Pittsburgh's WPXI-TV reported. He was known as Jack Hunter at the time.
WTOV-TV said MacDonald was accused of smuggling 500 pounds of marijuana into the United States from Canada but made his getaway by feigning illness.
"He was in the hospital because he faked a heart attack in prison," U.S. Marshal Chad Simpson told WTOV-TV. "He was able to convince a contract guard at the hospital to remove his leg restraints off the bed. He went to take a shower. The guard says he was gone for a minute and he escaped."
Hunter allegedly changed his name to MacDonald and eventually wound up running a used-appliance store in Brooke County, W.Va. He closed his shop, 19th Hole Used Appliances, and went south, where authorities caught up with him. He was being held in a Miami jail.
"It's really surprising that someone can live in your neighborhood for that long undetected," local resident Jim Lyle said.
News Hawk: MedicalNeed 420 MAGAZINE
Source: upi.com
Contact:About United Press International | About UPI
Copyright: 2011 United Press International, Inc.
Website: Man on lam 30 years caught - UPI.com
