Man Charged with Escaping Federal Prison 8 Years Ago in California
A 55-year-old fugitive, Eric Pree, who had been on the run for eight years after escaping from a federal prison in California, has been arrested and indicted, the U.S. attorney’s office announced last week.
On Thursday, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Pree, charging him with escape from custody, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert of the Eastern District of California stated in a press release.
Pree had been convicted in 2012 on federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to 1 year and 5 months in prison. While serving his sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, California, Pree was discovered missing on January 29, 2017.
Pree remained at large for nearly two years until October 2024, when he was located and arrested in Walnut Creek, California. During his capture, authorities found several cellphones, multiple identification cards, debit and credit cards under different names, multiple driver’s licenses, and a fake Harvard University student ID.
Pree is now back in federal custody to complete his original sentence and face additional charges for his escape. He could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for this offense. However, his final sentence will be determined by the court, taking into account various legal factors and guidelines.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple and follows an investigation by the Department of State and the U.S. Marshals Service.
