Post by Scumhunter on May 8, 2014 13:27:47 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: amw.com archives)
Fugitive Profile as of August 10th, 2014 (based on US Marshals Service poster, "The Hunt with John Walsh" tv show):
Name: SARASWATI,PRAKASHANAND
Alias: PRAKASHANDAND,SARASWATI; SWAMI
JI, XX; SWAMIJI,XX
Sex: MALE
Race: ASIAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER
Date of Birth: 01/15/1929
Place of Birth: India
Height: 5'06"
Weight: 170 pounds
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Gray/Partially Gray
Who to call if you've seen him: ANYONE WITH INFORMATION PERTAINING TO SARASWATI'S WHEREABOUTS IS ENCOURAGED TO
CONTACT THE LONE STAR FUGITIVE TASK FORCE AT (512) 800-4213, (24) HOURS, OR YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. YOUR IDENTITY WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
For Two Victims, Justice On Hold[/b]
Prakashanand Saraswati failed to show up to his sentencing hearing on March 7, 2011.
On March 4, 2011, 82-year-old Prakashanand Saraswati was convicted of sexually assaulting two young girls back in the ‘90s.
After so many years, it seemed that the two victims would finally get some justice for being molested by the spiritual leader of the Barsana Dham ashram in southwest Austin.
But on March 7, 2011, U.S. Marshals say the Hindu guru, also known as Shree Swamiji, didn't show up to his sentencing hearing. Saraswati, was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison on each of the 20 counts he faced for abusing the two girls, who are now 27 and 30 years old.
Now it’s a matter of finding him.
Cops: Saraswati Could Be Hiding In Mexico
Saraswati also goes by Shree Swamiji.
The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force believes some of Saraswati's followers may have taken their leader to Mexico, either to Monterrey or Nuevo Laredo. They also say some of those followers are wealthy and could be trying to rent a jet plane and a pilot to take Saraswati to India with a fake passport.
Cops believe Saraswati could be using a wheelchair or a cane, so he would be easy to spot. And they know that Saraswati is never alone and has people around him all the time, protecting him.
web.archive.org/web/20110907083431/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=77370
Thoughts? Saraswati is listed as a web-exclusive fugitive on the archived AMW.com site, but it seems he was at the very least on a BOLO video on their website.
The reason I'm posting about him is there is a new article about him this week:
kxan.com/2014/05/05/swami-ji-religious-leader-convicted-of-sex-crimes-disappears/
It mentions the money factor and that there will be a news piece on him tonight at 6 PM central on a local Austin station (If the airing makes the net, I will post that here as well). According to the article, it claims Marshals are zeroing in on his location.
To me, it is absolutely ridiculous he was let out AFTER conviction in the first place. There is no allegedly here. He was convicted. And he was 82 but there is nothing to suggest he's not still alive. If caught, he will most likely spend the rest of his life in jail but that is the price you pay if you're convicted of molesting children.
It seems he was transported to Mexico initially but I would think he may stand out there and would blend in more in India. But the recent capture of Lakshmninivana Nerusu should give us hope. And the article claiming Marshals are zeroing in should give us hope as well.
UPDATE: As of 7/19/2018, Saraswati is still listed on the U.S. Marshals website as one of their most wanted fugitives out of the Western District of Texas: www.usmarshals.gov/district/tx-w/fugitives/index.html
Admin Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
