Ohio Fugitive Arrested in Miami After 18 Years on the Run

Craig Scanlon was convicted of mail fraud and money laundering in 2001 but fled while on supervised release.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:31pm

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A man who had been on the run for nearly two decades was arrested Tuesday in Miami Beach, Florida. Craig Scanlon, 68, was convicted in an Akron federal court in 2001 of mail fraud, interstate transporting of stolen property and money laundering after embezzling money and defrauding clients out of nearly $700,000. Scanlon served 46 months in federal prison and was ordered to complete three years of supervised release, but in 2007, while still on supervised release, he fled. Over the years, task force investigators tracked Scanlon across several states including Ohio, Florida and Texas. The fugitive was found living and working in Miami Beach, where he had established himself as a personal trainer and hotel manager, using a false identity of August Brooke.

Why it matters

This case highlights the persistence of law enforcement in tracking down long-term fugitives and the consequences for those who attempt to evade justice by fleeing and assuming a new identity. It also underscores the challenges faced by the criminal justice system in ensuring that offenders complete their court-ordered sentences and supervision.

The details

Scanlon was convicted in an Akron federal court in 2001 of mail fraud, interstate transporting of stolen property and money laundering after embezzling money and defrauding clients out of nearly $700,000. He served 46 months in federal prison and was ordered to complete three years of supervised release, but in 2007, while still on supervised release, he fled. Over the years, task force investigators tracked Scanlon across several states including Ohio, Florida and Texas. The fugitive was found living and working in Miami Beach, where he had established himself as a personal trainer and hotel manager, using a false identity of August Brooke.

  • Scanlon was convicted in an Akron federal court in 2001.
  • Scanlon served 46 months in federal prison and was ordered to complete three years of supervised release.
  • In 2007, while still on supervised release, Scanlon fled.
  • Scanlon was arrested on Tuesday in Miami Beach, Florida.

The players

Craig Scanlon

A 68-year-old man who was convicted of mail fraud, interstate transporting of stolen property and money laundering in 2001 and fled while on supervised release in 2007.

Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force

The law enforcement task force that arrested Scanlon in Miami Beach, Florida.

Pete Elliott

U.S. Marshal who stated that the "incredible work by investigators here in Ohio as well as in Florida led to the ultimate capture of a fugitive who thought he could disappear under a fake name and live in the Miami sun."

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What they’re saying

“Incredible work by investigators here in Ohio as well as in Florida led to the ultimate capture of a fugitive who thought he could disappear under a fake name and live in the Miami sun.”

— Pete Elliott, U.S. Marshal

What’s next

Scanlon remains in custody in southern Florida until he is extradited back to Ohio to appear in federal court.

The takeaway

This case highlights the persistence of law enforcement in tracking down long-term fugitives and the consequences for those who attempt to evade justice by fleeing and assuming a new identity. It underscores the challenges faced by the criminal justice system in ensuring that offenders complete their court-ordered sentences and supervision.