BI arrests American tourist, readies deportation

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has detained and begun deportation proceedings against an American tourist wanted for fraud in Brazil. BI Interpol agents arrested William Preston Strong in a Boracay resort in Malay, Aklan. Immigration records show Strong entered the country on November 28, 2010. Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. issued the arrest order for Strong after the BI received a ‘red notice’ from the Interpol in Sao Paolo, Brazil. A red notice is an alert Interpol member-countries send out for the arrest of fugitives. BI Intelligence chief and spokesperson Maria Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang said a federal court in Sao Paolo issued an arrest warrant on Strong, who has been accused of fraud, conspiracy and setting up a securities fraud syndicate. Mangrobang added that the complainants are Brazilians lured into investing millions of dollars in attractively-priced shares Strong’s syndicate allegedly advertised on the Internet. She said the victims were made to pay taxes and commissions for a stock offer that was a hoax. — ELR/VS, GMA News