Polish fugitive wanted for $30 million fraud discovered training at US Army boot camp

The camouflage didn’t work.A Polish fugitive wanted for $30 million in fraud and money laundering was arrested while taking part in military training at a US Army boot camp in Missouri, officials said.Marcin Pióro, the 45-year-old CEO of a Polish financial services company, was participating in military training at Fort Leonard Wood on May 19 when officials discovered he was wanted by Interpol, US Marshals said.Interpol had put out a red notice on Pióro after Polish authorities accused him of a flurry of large-scale fraud and money laundering offenses involving more than 5,000 victims.US officials noted that the alleged conman had attempted to join the Illinois National Guard in a ploy to receive naturalization sponsorship.Pióro was taken into custody without incident and with minor disruption to the enlistees’ training at Fort Leonard Wood, officials added.The fugitive appeared before the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri on May 20, and the Illinois National Guard swiftly discharged the Pole from service.Chief Deputy US Marshal Chris Deaton touted the agency’s Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force in the western district of Missouri for finding and apprehending Pióro.“Our Deputies and support staff have tirelessly collaborated to locate and apprehend Pioro.Today’s arrest was a strong symbolic gesture of this commitment,” Deaton said in a statement.Polish police have had a case open against Pióro since October 2024, alleging that the fugitive preyed upon customers with his financial services platform Cinkciarz.pl.

Pióro allegedly conducted his currency exchange business outside the country, with thousands of victims accusing the business of stealing their money.Polish authorities have already arrested two of Pióro’s associates, including a board member and his chief accountant, who both face up to 25 years in prison, local RMF24 reported....