Banker Missing ... Along with 17 Million


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Atlanta (CNN) -- A Georgia banker who went missing last month is being sought by federal authorities for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars from a south Georgia bank.

Aubrey "Lee" Price, 46, is charged with wire fraud, and is suspected of defrauding more than 100 investors of at least $17 million over the course of two years, a criminal complaint from the U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of New York, said.

In late 2010, Price was celebrated by his peers and written up in newspaper articles after a company he controlled bought a controlling portion of the troubled Montgomery Bank & Trust in Ailey, Georgia. He was supposed to invest the bank's capital. Instead, prosecutors say Price used a New York-based "clearing firm" -- a dummy company set up to hide money -- to cover up fraudulent wire transfers and investments.

Montgomery Bank & Trust in Ailey -- about 170 miles southeast of Atlanta -- had been in operation for nearly 90 years when it was closed Friday by the state of Georgia, with the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation named as receiver. The FDIC said Ameris Bank in Moultrie, Georgia, would take over operations of Montgomery's accounts and its two branches.

Price disappeared about two weeks ago after telling his friends he had lost "a large sum of money through his trading activities," the complaint said. The complaint quoted a letter purportedly written by Price in June to acquaintances and business associates. Price indicated he planned to commit suicide off the Florida coast by "jumping off a ferry boat," the complaint said.

But federal investigators, including the FBI, believe Price, who owns property in Venezuela and Guatemala, may be on the run. FBI Special Agent Michael Howard said in the complaint that investigators believe Price "may own a boat that would be large enough to travel to Venezuela from Florida."

Price was last seen in Key West, Florida, in mid-June, and "despite a recent search by the (U.S.) Coast Guard, Price's body has not been recovered," the complaint said.

Prosecutors say airline records indicate Price had returned to the United States from a trip to Venezuela on June 2.

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So he embezzled 17 mill and now can not be found... gee I wonder where he went, most likely a non extradition treaty country!

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Well he will live the life for a while. If he is smart he will never be found. I mean i would go to some south-east asian country. buy a house and live peacefully. Even in a big city it will be hard to be found. Just need to not use your passport.

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Yup exactly what I'd throw my career away for....except I'd be getting a different girl in whatever country I went to for companionship..

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Someone has to explain me how come anyone could be envious of a felon.

He's going to spend the rest of his life enjoy 17 millions in a foreign country.....what's not to envy?
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^ He appears to have achieved 'ultimate freedom' -- which many people dream of. ;) Many people resent the 'rules'.

He's going to spend the rest of his life enjoy 17 millions in a foreign country.....what's not to envy?

Hardly, the ultimate freedom ...

He is on the run from the police. It is a possibility that the federal authorities might want him for some explainations and request Interpol or other extraditions.

He may be found by a mafia who is going to want a percentage just to let him live.

Forget that, he may be found by a mafia who is going to murder him after taking the money. Why bother with letting thieves and crooks around after all?

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