BRECKENRIDGE, Colo.—An attorney suspected of stealing up to $1 million from his clients was awaiting extradition to Colorado on Thursday after being arrested in California nearly five years after he disappeared.
Police in Breckenridge said Royal “Scoop” Daniel was in jail in San Diego after being arrested while entering the United States from Mexico.
Daniel, 66, was a prominent attorney in the ski resort town and disappeared in April 2007. A 911 call was made from Daniel’s cellphone on the day he disappeared, but no one spoke during the 9-second call.
After an initial search by friends and police, authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, alleging he never returned clients’ money he was holding during property transfers. Daniel faces charges of theft and commercial bribery.
District attorney Mark Hurlbert told the Summit Daily News () that more charges could be filed.
Daniel was still being processed at the jail and couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Hurlbert said authorities don’t know where Daniel has been since his disappearance.
Daniel had made frequent trips to Brazil before disappearing, and some have speculated that he may have fled to South America.
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Information from: Summit Daily News,
