SEATTLE (AP) — A fugitive who was captured in Mexico thanks to some help from his Facebook page has pleaded guilty to fraud charges in Seattle.
Maxi Sopo fled to Cancun, Mexico, last year after learning he was under investigation. For a while, investigators weren’t sure where he was. But then Sopo began posting status updates on Facebook saying how much fun he was having — and he added a former Justice Department official to his list of Facebook friends.
U.S. authorities used the information to track him down and he was extradited to Seattle last month. On Thursday he pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges. Prosecutors said he and an associate falsely obtained more than $200,000 from Seattle-area banks and credit unions.
Sopo is a native of Cameroon who previously was convicted of fraud in the United Kingdom. He is to be sentenced in August.
