O.C. Family Of Wife Of Fraud Suspect Paul Ceglia Speak Out About Disappearance
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — The mother and sisters of the wife of a man accused of trying to defraud Facebook are speaking out about the family's disappearance.
Paul Ceglia is accused of faking an ownership stake in Facebook to justify a multi-billion dollar suit against its founder, Mark Zuckerberg.
Ceglia was under house arrest awaiting trial but disappeared last weekend after authorities said he broke free of his ankle monitor in his New York home.
His wife, Iasia Ceglia, and the couple's two sons also vanished.
Friday night, Iasia Ceglia's sisters and mother told CBS2's Stacey Butler they're afraid Paul forced her to join him.
"I don't think that he took her violently. I don't think that he physically took her against her will. I think he was emotional," her sister said, while her mom said: "We think that he gave her the ultimatum, 'You either come with us or you don't see your kids.' "
U.S. Marshal's said Paul Ceglia sliced his electronic monitoring device and created a crude contraption to make it seem like he was moving around inside, Butler reported.
"He has a power over her and that power is her children," the sister said.
Iasia's sisters also said Paul has been in trouble with authorities in more than one country.
Iasia's family calls Paul a "master manipulator." They said his passport was revoked but suspect he may have falsified a new one and could be in Ireland, Canada or the U.S.
"My hope is she's watching TV somewhere and she's gonna hear our voices or hear the voices of her sister and her best friend at home, and know that we love her, and know that we're looking for her and we're fighting for her," her sister added.
Anyone with more information as to their whereabouts was asked to contact the U.S. Marshal's Office.