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How Do Fugitives Escape? By Not Googling That While Out on Bail

By Christopher Coble, Esq. on January 27, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

If you've pled not guilty to vehicular manslaughter, googling "How do fugitives escape?" while out on bail sure doesn't make you look innocent. But millionaire Sean Ludwick probably has bigger things to worry about right now than how he looks. Namely, whether he'll ever get out of prison again after a judge was alerted to his actions and denied him bail.

And if Ludwick is adding to his Things-Not-to-Do-When-Charged-With-a-Crime list, perhaps he should add, "Try and buy a boat from an off-duty FBI agent in Puerto Rico."

Let Me Google That for You

Google is a magnificent resource. The whole wisdom of the Internet, right there in the search window. And you might need some advice if you've just been arraigned on felony charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident:

  • "10 secrets to being a good liar,"
  • "Percentage of bail jumpers caught,"
  • "Does Venezuela extradite to the U.S.?"
  • "Can I leave on a cruise with an arrest warrant?"
  • "5 countries with no extradition,"
  • "Why do fugitives get caught,"
  • "How do fugitives escape,"
  • "Seeking citizenship in Venezuela," and
  • "Hitchhiking from Puerto Rico to Venezuela."

That's just a sampling of Mr. Ludwick's Google history taken from his phone between his January 5th arraignment and his January 19th arrest. Not only is Mr. Ludwick apparently unaware of the existence of "incognito" web browsers, but he must've missed our advice on how to delete everything you've ever said to Google.

Just a Dream and the Wind to Carry Me

So how did law enforcement know that Ludwick was eyeing an escape? Apparently he was a tad aggressive in his search for a sailing instructor while on vacation in Puerto Rico. After caring off one instructor with all the "questions that he was asking about the Coast Guard, passports and other questions," Ludwig was introduced to another, this one an FBI agent.

As it turns out, that agent also knew the power of Google, searched Ludwig, learned of his charges, and contacted friends in the Southampton Police Department after Ludwig offered to pay $385,000 in cash for a boat. New York State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho deemed Mr. Ludwick a serious flight risk, and he will remain in jail awaiting trial. Do they have Google in prison?

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