Elizabeth Holmes, former CEO of Theranos, on November 18, 2022 in San Jose, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the disgraced biotech company Theranos, bought a one-way ticket to Mexico shortly after her fraud conviction last January, according to a court filing Thursday.
Holmes was found guilty on four counts of lying to investors on January 3, 2022. Shortly thereafter, federal prosecutors allege in the filing that Holmes purchased a flight to Mexico that departed on Jan. 26, 2022, with no scheduled return trip. The U.S. government became aware of the booking on January 23, 2022.
“It was only after the government raised this unauthorized flight with the defense attorney that the trip was canceled,” prosecutors say.
Thursday’s filing came as part of the government’s opposition to Holmes’ request for parole pending an appeal of her conviction; in November a judge sentenced Holmes to more than 11 years in prison. US District Court Judge Edward Davila ordered Holmes to serve until April 27 in custody. It has not yet been determined where she would serve her sentence, but Davila has recommended a minimum security detention center in Texas.
Holmes’ partner William Evans also bought a one-way ticket “and didn’t return until about six weeks later because he had returned from another continent,” according to prosecutors.
“The Government understands that (Holmes) will respond by saying that it did not in fact leave the country as planned – but it is difficult to say with certainty what (Holmes) would have done if the Government had not intervened ‘ the prosecutors said.
Prosecutors also claim Holmes has access to vast financial resources.
“(Holmes) has lived in an estate for over a year where, based on the monthly cash flow statement (Holmes) submitted to the U.S. Parole Board, monthly expenses exceed $13,000 per month,” they write.
They further note that a judge found that Holmes “never quite appreciated that [s]he would be imprisoned” based on “unfounded hopes that the court would give [her] a suspended sentence.” Furthermore, Holmes has not “proved . . . in [her] Words or ways, a real acceptance of that [s]he stole a considerable amount of money from [investors] through lies and forgery,” says the public prosecutor.
They are therefore vehemently opposed to being released.
“At the same time that her incentive to flee has never been greater,[Holmes]has asked the court to relax restrictions on her travel and allow her to travel outside of the Northern County of California and perhaps even out of state altogether.” employment of her partner.'”
The US has maintained 19th-century bilateral extradition treaties with Mexico – perhaps in contrast to the assumption that crossing the southern border guaranteed freedom. According to the US State Department, Mexico has deported between 150 and 200 refugees to face criminal charges in the US since 2005.
A prominent example: Wanda Lee Ann Podgurski, who was convicted of disability and insurance fraud in 2013, was arrested in Mexico six months after an account tweeted on her behalf, “Catch me if you can.”
The US Marshals Service is the primary agency designated for the prosecution of fugitives. In addition to an office in Mexico, the USMS works closely with law enforcement agencies at the borders of Mexico and Canada, as well as with the US State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.
An attorney for Holmes did not immediately respond to a request for comment.