Fugitive busted after friending DOJ official on Facebook pleads guilty in Seattle to fraud

Fugitive busted through Facebook pleads guilty

SEATTLE — A fugitive captured because of his Facebook page has pleaded guilty to fraud charges in Seattle.

Maxi Sopo fled to Cancun, Mexico, last year after learning he was under investigation.

For a while, investigators weren’t sure where he was. But then Sopo began posting status updates on Facebook saying how much fun he was having — and he added a former Justice Department official to his list of Facebook friends.

U.S. authorities used the information to track him down and he was extradited to Seattle, where he pleaded guilty Thursday to bank fraud charges. Prosecutors said Sopo and an associate falsely obtained more than $200,000 from Seattle-area banks and credit unions.

Sopo is a native of Cameroon who previously was convicted of fraud in the United Kingdom.