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	U.S. Marshal: Swamiji Likely in Mexico KXAN March 23, 2011 http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/us-marshal-swamjii-likely-in-mexico [with video] AUSTIN (KXAN) - Missing Hindu leader Shree Swamiji, who was convicted this month of sexually abusing two girls in Central Texas, is likely in Mexico and soliciting flights to India, the U.S. Marshal's Office said Tuesday. Federal authorities are also charging Swamiji with unlawful flight to avoid apprehension. "He is believed to be in one of the Mexican towns of Tamilitas or Nuevo Leon," said Hecto Gomez, a supervisory deputy marshal. "We've contacted the Mexico City office to coordinate with their local counterparts there as to likely locations. Our search efforts are focusing right across the border or no further than Monterrey." Gomez said officials are convinced that Swamiji, 82, fled the night before he was to be sentenced in Hays County after being convicted of 20 counts of indecency with a child. Swamiji, whose real name is Prakashanand Saraswati, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on each count and also fined $10,000 for each count. Marshals said Swamiji was probably assisted out of Texas before his the sentencing phase of the trial. They also said he has "some familiarity with Mexico," but hasn't spent much time in that country. "We have contacted Interpol in [Washington] D.C. and asked them to notify member nations from countries he has frequented in Asia, New Zealand, Canada, India and Nepal," Gomez said. The marshal's office said Swamiji's passport was confiscated by Hays County officials. "We think he's pretty much hunkered down underground," Gomez said. "From his patterns he's not going to be open to the public." Officials said anyone who assists the fugitive will face charges. "If he does get caught in México, hopefully we'd respectfully request the Mexican government deport him to the United States," Gomez said.
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