Manhunt Intensifies for Hawai’i Fugitive Couple
By Wendy Osher
The FBI manhunt has intensified for a fugitive couple accused of bilking multiple O’ahu families out of money to fund their own lavish lifestyles, according to authorities.
Husband and wife, John and Julieanne Dimitrion, will be featured this week on the world premier of the new CNBC program, “American Greed: The Fugitives.”
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to their capture, authorities said.
In April 2009, the Dimitrion’s pleaded guilty to operating a fraud scheme in which distressed homeowners relinquished their homes with the promise of an improved financial situation, authorities said.
The couple was scheduled to be sentenced in Honolulu US District Court on Tuesday July 6, 2010, but they failed to appear at the sentencing. Warrants were issued for their arrest, and an FBI fugitive manhunt continues.
FBI officials say the Dimitrion’s were last seen by witnesses on Friday July 2, 2010 at church services in Mililani.
According to local FBI officials, the agency suspects the couple joined a domestic extremist group affiliated with the Sovereign Citizen Movement who arranged for the couple to be flown to the US mainland on a private jet to escape justice.
They were last known to have been hiding in Alabama in 2011. Their current whereabouts are unknown.
The Dimitrion episode of “American Greed: The Fugitives” titled, “Mr. & Mrs. Mortgage Fraud”, will air on CNBC on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. HST; and on Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. HST.