From Iceland — An Icelander is wanted in the United States for stealing millions
The police in California are trying to find the Icelander, Alfred Örn Clausen, suspected of having stolen 44 million US dollars. RÚV.
Alfred, 41, is said to have committed a grand theft by stealing millions from victims who applied for loan modifications with his fraudulent law firm.
According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, victims were promised that any modifications made to their loans would be handled by a licensed attorney within the Siringoringo Law Firm, but the loans were sent to unlicensed agents who fraudulently modified accounts and collected monthly payments and upfront fees from the victims.
Three men have been charged with large-scale theft and money laundering in the case, but Alfred – who is now in Iceland – is walking free.
Alfred maintained his innocence in the case when RÚV caught up with him yesterday and said he was not sure that he was going to hand himself over to the American authorities.
“I am not wanted [by police] here,” Alfred said. “It’s a very complicated and strange case, but we did nothing wrong.
WISHES #Alfred Clausen for Grand Theft in a $44 million scheme. Clausen is known to go back and forth #Iceland photo.twitter.com/JqvQwqEiJd
— SB District Attorney (@sbcountyda) March 17, 2015
The district attorney in San Bernardino has requested help in finding Alfred via Twitter – and even turned to Google Translate to appeal to Icelanders who may have knowledge of his whereabouts.
Alfred Clausen wanted for Grand Theft and money laundering in a $44,000,000 scheme. Clausen known to visit Iceland photo.twitter.com/0gkrNAlWEb
— SB District Attorney (@sbcountyda) March 17, 2015
Although the translation was somewhat poor, it had the desired effect, and many Icelanders seem to have turned to the district prosecutor’s office in their search.
Thank you all in #Iceland who has responded to our request for information on #Alfred Clausen
— SB District Attorney (@sbcountyda) March 17, 2015