Mark Jimenez not all alone; FBI also hunting another Pinoy

Aside from businessman-turned politician Mark Jimenez, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also tracking down in the country a Filipino-American wanted for a string of felony charges in the United States.

The suspect, one Sebastian Escalon Rico, said to be a business executive in California, simply disappeared and apparently is now hiding in the country.

FBI records reaching the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame showed that Rico is facing 24 felony charges in California for embezzlement, forgery and large-scale fraud.

The US State Department has set aside a $10,000 or a half-a-million pesos reward for anybody who can offer vital information that may lead to the arrest and subsequent deportation of the suspect back to the US.

The STAR learned that FBI agents are currently coordinating with the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for Rico’s arrest.

A US communiqué forwarded by American legal attaché James Nixon to the PNP cited the US-RP extradition treaty in their ongoing efforts to locate Rico in the country.

The same treaty is being cited by the US State Department to have businessman turned Manila Congressman Mark Jimenez extradited to the United States.

Jimenez is charged with illegal contribution to the campaign funds of then US President Bill Clinton. — Jaime Laude