How cops used Twitter to catch a fish called Wanda
Catch me if you can
I’ve posted before about criminals at large taunting police on social media, with varying degrees of success.
The case of Wanda Lee Ann Podgurski is a worthy addition to the catologue.
Ms Podgurski is a serial fraudster who was convicted in January 2013 of dishonestly acquiring $650,000 from fake insurance and disability claims.
She promptly went on the run.
This time it’s personal
Wanda set up a Twitter account and followed just one other tweeter – San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.
Like any good new Tweeter, she carefully crafted her profile description:
“On the run, possibly in Iran.”
before tweeting
Catch me if you can.
— Wanda podgurski (@wanda_podgurski) June 6, 2013
The US Marshals Fugitive Task Force was able to trace her tweet to Mexico and promptly arrested her, leaving the DA the last word on Twitter:
Caught her. Great work by Fugitive Task Force and U.S. Marshals. http://t.co/s6W6NCrhEm pic.twitter.com/pFkrhRKKpG
— Bonnie Dumanis (@BonnieDumanis) July 8, 2013