NORWAY – As the hunt for Debbie Wyman continued into its fifth day after an arrest warrant was issued for her last week, police said they have received help from the public in figuring out where she might be.
“People have been calling with information for us,” Norway Police Chief Rob Federico said. He did not say from where they have phoned or where they have directed police to look.
Wyman is wanted on a felony charge of embezzling town funds.
According to a police affidavit, Wyman may have taken more than $55,000 during the past three years from federal grant money slated for local economic development. She has been out of town for the past three months on a leave of absence.
State police confirmed Tuesday that they believe Wyman is in the Caribbean, but wouldn’t say whether she’s on a boat or an island.
Federico said the investigation into Wyman involves the U.S. Marshal’s Office, which helps police agencies hunt for fugitives overseas.
Without confirming his office’s role in the investigation, Chief Deputy John Cooper said Tuesday from the U.S. Marshal’s Office in Portland, “We do on occasion provide technical and investigative assistance for any agency that asks us.”
Federico said he believes Wyman is preparing to return. “I don’t doubt that she’ll be back,” he said.
As of last week, her financial assets in Maine have been frozen.
Because police still are not sure yet of the breadth of Wyman’s financial holdings, they have subpoenaed all banks in Maine for account information under her name. The banks have until April 6 to respond.
At least one local bank has revealed its records to police.
“We’re assuming a lot more will be coming in,” Federico said. “There may be bank accounts outside of Maine.”
“Without all the records yet, what we’re seeing so far is she spent it as soon as it was deposited,” Federico said.
According to the last statement Key Bank had for Wyman in January, she had roughly $1,000 in a checking account, but Federico said she could have deposited or withdrawn funds since then.
Because Wyman’s name has been entered into a national computer system that alerts all law enforcement that Wyman is wanted in Maine, she will be arrested if she returns to the United States, State Police spokesman Steve McCausland said.
While a marshal has no authority to arrest U.S. citizens in foreign countries, a marshal can provide information to legal authorities in that jurisdiction. At that point, the country’s laws dictate what happens, and Cooper said an extradition can be quick or take years, depending on the tangle of laws surrounding the alleged crime and criminal.
Finding and arresting Wyman if she’s out at sea could be tougher, depending on whether she’s close to shore or on the high seas.
“A lot of lawyers make money on that,” Cooper said.
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