Christmas came early for federal prosecutors last month after the man who was labeled the “most wanted deadbeat parent” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was officially taken into custody.
The man in question is none other than 50-year-old Robert Sand — former resident of New York and, most recently, of Thailand — who currently owes over $1 million in back child support for his three children with two former wives.
According to sources, Sand was earning between $500,000 and $600,000 a year during the 1990s as the head of an automobile auction house. However, his business and his marriages eventually failed, leading to two costly divorces.
He has been on the run for refusing to pay child support since 1996, dodging innumerable arrest warrants and an indictment by federal prosecutors in 2009.
Sand ultimately fled to Thailand, which has no extradition agreement with the United States, to sell motorcycles for a living.
How then were federal law enforcement officials able to apprehend him?
Sand apparently decided to travel to the Philippines, but was taken into custody by officials there after failing to produce the proper identification papers. Unfortunately for him, the Philippines do have an extradition agreement with the United States, and he was very quickly put aboard a flight to Los Angeles International Airport where he was greeted by federal marshals upon his arrival.
Subsequent to his arraignment before a federal magistrate in California, Sand was brought back to New York to face the charges against him.
It is worth noting that Sand can still rely on the unwavering support of at least one person: his mother.
“I’m very glad he’s back in the U.S.A.,” said the 78-year-old woman. “He’s not a bad guy, he just got caught up in that spider web of whatever the system is.”
To learn more about child support arrears or other post-divorce issues, contact an experienced and skilled legal professional.
Stay tuned for more from our Ft. Worth family law blog …
This post is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
Source:
The New York Daily News, “Long Island deadbeat dad who allegedly owes more than $1 million in child support is arrested in the Philippines,” Nancy Dillon and John Marzulli, Dec. 18, 2012
