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SALT LAKE CITY -- As a fugitive, U.S. Marshal's received information about one of Jeff Geddes' favorite movies.
"We were told during the course of our investigations that one of his favorite movies was 'Catch Me If You Can,'" U.S. Marshal Jim Phelps said. "At the casino, when we arrested him, we told him that 'The Fugitive' was ours."
Geddes, 40, appeared before a federal judge on Thursday where he admitted to skipping his scheduled sentencing in March and going on the lam. Geddes pleaded guilty to 56 counts of fraud, accused of bilking Zions Bank and others out of $30 million.
On Thursday, Geddes told U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooke Wells that he was too poor to afford a lawyer. "At the present time to retain new counsel, I have no assets," he said.
According to federal prosecutors, Geddes claimed that a company he owned sold stone tile to Home Depot. In a plea deal, Geddes admitted to providing Zions Bank with fraudulent invoices and purchase orders to make it look like he was doing business. He faced a 10 year prison sentence, but the day that he was supposed to be sentenced, Geddes disappeared.
According to federal prosecutors, Geddes cut off the GPS ankle monitoring bracelet he was wearing and left a message with his attorney that he was going to the mountains to kill himself. His SUV was found abandoned on a highway.
Over the next several months, U.S. Marshals said it appears Geddes was blowing money at casinos. "It was a tough challenge when you have an individual that had over $7 million to run," Phelps said Thursday.
The FBI had already seized much of his assets including a multi-million dollar home in Park City, a Rolls Royce, a Ferrari and millions in art and jewelry. The remaining $7 million is unaccounted for.
Phelps said Geddes considered himself a professional gambler and once was spotted in a casino losing $400,000. He was ultimately arrested earlier this month at a San Diego casino and extradited back to Utah.
In court Thursday, Geddes was told he would finally be sentenced on July 10. "In the meantime, sir, you will be held," Wells said, ordering Geddes back into U.S. Marshal's custody.
Phelps said federal agents were continuing to investigate Geddes including some people who might have helped keep him on the run. They were also looking at whether he tried to dupe others in another fraud scheme, Phelps said.
E-mail: bwinslow@ksl.com
