Raymond Young
Real Name: Raymond David Young
Aliases: Ray Young
Wanted For: Tax Evasion
Missing Since: April 6, 1993
Case[]
Details: On April 6, 1993, businessman Raymond Young, his son, and several friends went scuba diving off the coast of Louisiana at the mouth of the Mississippi River. At 6pm, Raymond and his son decided to make one final dive. Twenty minutes later, his son returned, claiming that he could not find him. A massive search turned up no trace of him. His family assumed that he drowned, but the authorities believed that he faked his drowning and is still alive.
Raymond was a flashy, self-made millionaire who owned and operated a wholesale fuel company on Marco Island, Florida. He set up the company to distribute diesel fuel for offshore marine use. Because he supposedly sold to wholesalers only, he was exempt from paying federal excise taxes. However, when customs officials discovered that millions of dollars were flowing in and out of his personal bank accounts, they suspected that he was really scamming the government.
They later discovered that Raymond was selling his fuel to retail gas stations throughout Texas. He then pocketed the money that was supposed to be paid in taxes. It was estimated that he was stealing forty cents per gallon. It is believed that he defrauded the government for an excess of $15 million. In October 1991, the IRS and U.S. Customs Service launched a joint investigation into his activities. At the same time, he began to liquidate his assets.
Eventually, the authorities charged Raymond with seventeen counts of tax evasion. However, he left Florida while the investigation was still underway. In May 1992, he resurfaced in New Orleans. They watched his Mercedes, which was parked next a luxury yacht. Records confirmed that it belonged to him. When he went to it, he was arrested.
For some reason, Raymond was convinced that he would be acquitted. However, in January 1993, he was convicted on the tax evasion charges. Even though he faced up to thirteen years in prison, he was granted bail to clean up his personal and business affairs. Two days before he was to be sentenced, he went on the scuba diving trip and vanished. Authorities are certain that he is still alive.
Extra Notes: This case first aired on the November 17, 1993 episode. It was also profiled on America's Most Wanted.
Results: Captured. In 2000, after seven years on the run, Raymond was found in Costa Rica. He was arrested and returned to Florida in April 2001. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and has since been released. His wife, Anne, was also arrested and charged with helping him escape.
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