American Fugitive Captured in Cebu for Multimillion-Dollar Fraud
April 8, 2024 – In a significant crackdown on international crime, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has apprehended 57-year-old American fugitive Paul David Cardwell in Cebu, Philippines. Cardwell, who is on the wanted list for a substantial fraud case in the United States, was caught while attempting to extend his temporary visitor’s visa through the BI’s online services.
According to Raymond Remigio, the chief of the BI tourist visa section, the arrest was triggered by an alert from their system, which identified Cardwell as a convicted felon. The system’s prompt led to further scrutiny and the subsequent discovery that Cardwell is accused of embezzling approximately $850,000 (over P48 million) from a Wyoming hospital.
The BI’s intelligence operatives launched a manhunt that culminated in Cardwell’s capture on April 3. He was found in Cebu, seeking information on how to obtain permanent residency in the Philippines. This arrest follows Cardwell’s previous run-ins with the law, including a conviction that resulted in a sentence of over ten years in prison. During his hearing, Cardwell had admitted to his crimes, stating, “I was prideful, I was arrogant, and I’m a thief.”
Cardwell’s criminal history includes another arrest in Bangkok, where he was taken into custody for fleeing his fraud case. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco lauded the efforts of the operatives, emphasizing that “illegal aliens cannot evade the long arm of the law.”
Following his arrest, Cardwell is being held at the BI’s detention facility, awaiting deportation to the United States to face justice.
According to the press release by the Bureau of Immigration.