From Denny Walsh:
One of three fugitives with ties to a Roseville firm under federal investigation has been captured in Spain and is fighting extradition to the United States.
Garret Griffith Gililland III (left photo) fled last summer after his indictment by a federal grand jury in Sacramento. The indictment has since been recast, and Gililland is now charged with mortgage fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
Acting U. S. Attorney Larry Brown said Tuesday that Gililland, 27, was captured Oct. 16 in a suburb of Barcelona.
"He should be back here by late spring," Brown said. "We are confident we will prevail on extradition. As the adage goes, 'You can run, but you can't hide.'"
A citizen informant in Barcelona contacted the Butte County district attorney's office in October, saying he learned of Gililland's status as a fugitive from something he had seen on the Internet, knew where he was hiding, and wanted money for the information, Brown said.
The investigation of Gililland, who is from Chico, was initiated in Butte County, the top prosecutor said.
Around that same time, however, federal agents had independently tracked Gililland to Barcelona.
"The informant was just a little too late" to collect a reward, Brown said.
Cristopher Jared Warren, 26, and Scott Edward Cavell, 25, fled the country last week as IRS and FBI agents closed in on Loomis Wealth Solutions, suspected of one of the nation's largest investment and mortgage frauds.
Brown said he is "absolutely optimistic" the pair will be apprehended.
"It's just a matter of time," he said.
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