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Israel to Judge: I Did Attempt Suicide

Painless or not, hedge-fund scammer couldn't off himself

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 3, 2008 11:24 AM CDT

(AP) – A hedge-fund cheat who faked his death to try to dodge a 20-year prison sentence has told a judge that he did actually try to commit suicide this week. Samuel Israel appeared in Manhattan federal court today for a new charge that could get him an extra 10 years.

A massive manhunt ended yesterday when Israel surrendered in Massachusetts. Israel disappeared on the day he was to report to prison. He abandoned his SUV on a bridge north of New York City with the words "Suicide is Painless" scrawled in dust on the hood. He was sentenced in April for conspiracy and fraud for scamming half a billion dollars from investors.

Fugitive investor Samuel Israel leaves U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mass., after turning himself to authorities on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.
Fugitive investor Samuel Israel leaves U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mass., after turning himself to authorities on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/The Springfield Republican, Christopher Evans)
Fugitive investor Samuel Israel leaves U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mass., after turning himself to authorities on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.
Fugitive investor Samuel Israel leaves U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mass., after turning himself to authorities on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/The Springfield Republican, Christopher Evans)
This file photo taken from a wanted poster shows Samuel Israel III. Israel turned himself in to Southwick, Mass., police Wednesday morning, July 2, 2008.
This file photo taken from a wanted poster shows Samuel Israel III. Israel turned himself in to Southwick, Mass., police Wednesday morning, July 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/ U.S. Department of Justice Marshals Service)
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