NBI-Interpol extradites US man over $698,000 check scam

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation has extradited a man wanted in the United States for accusations that he received stolen checks amounting to $698,000 from his wife’s employer suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

In an interview with reporters, lawyer Claro de Castro Jr., chief of the NBI Interpol Division, identified the accused as Jonathan Enriquez, 39, of 11 Villa Socorro Road, Project 8, Quezon City. “He was extradited on Friday to Los Angeles, US. The NBI agents turned him over to US Marshals so he can face his trial in the US,” De Castro said in an interview.

Prior to his extradition, Enriquez was placed under NBI custody since his arrest in November 2009, said De Castro.

The accused faces criminal charges in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, USA for receiving stolen property.

He then fled to the Philippines to hide. Enriquez was arrested sometime in November 2009 by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 1.

The US government, through the Department of Justice filed an extradition case on Nov. 18, 2008. The court set no bail.

A report made by Special Investigator Sixto Espenesin Jr., of the NBI Interpol Division, said that Enriquez, alias “Jonathan Anas,” and his wife Maribel Enriquez, 43, fled to the Philippines years ago. Maribel faces theft from an elder or dependent adult (grand theft) and receiving stolen property while Jonathan faces receiving stolen property.

The report said that on April 22, 2003, in Culver City, California, Maribel, a Philippine registered nurse, was hired by Andrea Lara, personal secretary of William Murphy Sr., part owner of Murphy Shelby Dodge Co., to take care of Murphy. Murphy Sr. is an elder, also called a dependent adult, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. On May 29, 2003 , Lara discovered that a personal check of Murphy Sr. was missing.

When she called the bank to request for a stop payment of the check, she was informed the check had already been cashed in the amount of $698,000 at the US Bank at 5399 Sepulveda Blvd. Culver City, California.

On June 4, 2003, Murphy Sr. and his son Murphy Jr., went to the Culver City Police Department and reported the crime.