A Yavapai County jury has convicted a Prescott man in a fake kidnapping scheme tied to gambling losses. Mark Michael Ellis was found guilty of attempted fraud schemes, attempted theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia following a trial in Prescott.
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office investigators say Ellis texted his employer in January of last year claiming he’d been kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel and needed more than 17-thousand dollars wired to him to stay alive. The 33-year-old Ellis also made FaceTime calls from what he claimed was a basement prison.
Sheriff’s Office investigators later found Ellis at home and discovered the “basement” was actually his garage. Ellis admitted the story was false and motivated by online gambling losses totaling more than 15-thousand dollars.
Authorities say Ellis fled during the trial and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mark Michael Ellis should call Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.