Captured Fugitive Christopher J. Warren’s Safe Deposit Box in Phoenix Bank Searched by Federal Agents
Gold Coins and Currency Seized

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Acting United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that earlier today federal agents seized gold coins and currency from a safe deposit box rented by CHRISTOPHER J. WARREN in Phoenix. United States Magistrate Judge David K. Duncan in Phoenix signed the search warrant this morning.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

“We are firmly committed to tracking down the proceeds of Warren’s brazen fraud. The United States will seed forfeiture of such proceeds and work to have the funds made available to his victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brown.

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Russell L. Carlberg and Matthew Stegman, who are prosecuting the case, agents of the FBI and the IRS seized the evidence from a safe deposit box at a U.S. Bank, located at 101 N. 1st Avenue, in Phoenix. They recovered approximately 276 gold coins, consisting of both Saint Gaudens Liberty “Double Eagle” gold coins minted by the United States government from 1907–1932, and Liberty Head gold coins minted by the United States government from 1849–1907. Agents also recovered $7,500 in cash. The gold coins bear the face value of $20, but their market value today is estimated to be $413,000 due to their weight and their status as collector’s items.

In the search warrant affidavit FBI Special Agent Kathleen Nicolls filed today in Phoenix, she described WARREN’s search incident to his arrest after attempting to cross the Canadian-United States border on the night of February 10, 2009. Agents in Buffalo, N.Y., found two keys to a safe deposit box in Phoenix in WARREN’s possession. According to the affidavit, WARREN told the agents in New York that the box contained approximately $750,000. The affidavit further described how WARREN, days before he fled the country on a private jet, rented the safe deposit box in the name of MARK. A. SEAGRAVE, the same alias he was traveling under when arrested at the Canadian border.

A federal criminal complaint was filed on February 5, 2009, in Sacramento charging WARREN with bank fraud and other crimes. According to the affidavit of Special Agent Christopher Fitzpatrick filed in support of the complaint, WARREN defrauded mortgage lenders and others while an employee at Loomis Wealth Solutions, located in Roseville, Calif.

 

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