If he could travel back in time with the 1981 DeLorean he purchased with monies he falsely collected from his insurer, maybe Travis Magdalena Scott would be able to save his future.

That's not going to happen however.

Scott, 34, stole more than $11 million from Zurich North America by falsely claiming lightning destroyed supercomputers at his Minneapolis-based business Security Management Technologies.

He spent the insurance money on luxury goods, including three airplanes, a $700,000 house, a $300,000 yacht, a 2008 BMW M5, and of course the 1981 DeLorean.

In May 2011, Scott pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering related to the fraudulent claims. Federal prosecutors requested in an August court filing that Scott be sentenced within the advisory federal guidelines, which range from 87 to 108 months in prison. The maximum terms are 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and 10 years for money laundering.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Soctt and he suddenly went missing. In September, a kayak washed up on the west shore of Lake Mille Lacs. It was discovered overturned with a bullet hole near the back. Inside the kayak were a firearm and a suicide note indicating Scott took his life. A body from such a suicide may not have been recoverable from the middle of the lake. The Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Department, however, conducted a multi-week search effort, costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Scott had actually faked his own death and fled to Canada. He was picked up in Winnipeg when a pharmacy employee alerted police that Scott attempted to use a forged prescription. Scott was carrying fake identification at the time authorities questioned him. Once police determined his true identity, they found the federal arrest warrant issued out of Minnesota and contacted the U.S. Marshals Service.

A search of Scott's Winnipeg apartment revealed up to $80,000 in gold coins, $30,000 in U.S. and Canadian currency, $750 in silver coins, a Taser, numerous forged prescriptions, a number of prescription drugs, computer equipment and printers. A search of a Jeep Liberty that police linked to Scott produced a loaded handgun.

Scott is back to facing up to 20 years for wire fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering. Additional charges are expected to be brought forth as well.

Source: Star Tribune, and Princeton Union-Eagle, and www.zalma.com

Special Reports /

Fake Claims, Fake Death, Real Arrest

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