U.S. Marshals Arrest Northern Ohio Fraud Fugitive in Miami Beach After 18 Years Evading Supervision

Long-running federal fugitive case ends with Miami Beach arrest

Federal authorities have taken into custody a Northern Ohio fugitive in Miami Beach, ending an 18-year period in which investigators said he evaded supervision and lived under an assumed identity while working in South Florida.

The man, identified as Craig Scanlon, 68, was arrested Monday, February 2, 2026, by members of a U.S. Marshals-led fugitive task force operating in the Miami area. Investigators said the arrest followed renewed work that placed Scanlon living and working at a Miami Beach hotel.

What Scanlon was convicted of, and when he disappeared

Authorities said Scanlon was convicted in federal court in 2001 on charges including mail fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property, and money laundering. The case involved allegations that he embezzled money and defrauded clients of nearly $700,000.

In 2007, while on supervised release, investigators said Scanlon absconded, triggering a years-long effort to locate him. Over time, leads were pursued in multiple states, including Ohio, Florida, and Texas, as part of the search for his whereabouts.

How investigators found him in Miami Beach

Investigators said they recently identified Scanlon as living and working in Miami Beach and narrowed their search to a hotel in the 6500 block of Collins Avenue. They said he was employed on-site and was also residing at the property he managed.

When approached, investigators said Scanlon initially provided a false name—“August Brooke”—before ultimately acknowledging his identity.

What happens next in court

Scanlon remains in custody in South Florida. Authorities said he is expected to be transported back to the Northern District of Ohio, where he will appear in federal court in connection with the case and his alleged flight from supervised release.

Investigators involved in the arrest described the case as a reminder that fugitive investigations can remain active for years and can result in arrests far from the jurisdiction where the underlying conviction occurred.

Broader context: task forces and multi-state fugitive searches

The capture reflects the role of regional fugitive task forces that combine federal, state, and local resources to locate wanted individuals across jurisdictional lines. These task forces often rely on long-term lead development, identity verification, and coordination between districts to execute arrests when fugitives are found.

• Arrest location: Miami Beach, Florida
• Time at large: approximately 18 years after absconding in 2007
• Underlying federal conviction: 2001, involving fraud and money-laundering-related offenses