WELLSVILLE, NY - The saga continues involving a Western New York man, who's accused of attempting to defraud Facebook and still remains a fugitive from the feds. This weekend, properties held by the family of Paul Ceglia will hit the auction block near Wellsville and go to the highest bidder.
if you look up Ceglia's name and you'll find many storylines.
He's accused of attempting to defraud Facebook of millions of dollars and he's an international fugitive from Wellsville, Allegany County.
"It definitely is unique, it is extremely odd, and there's definitely a mystery here, without a doubt," said Robert Ross Fogg, Ceglia's attorney.
Over a year ago, Ceglia, facing federal wire fraud charges was on home detention, monitored by an ankle bracelet. He was living with his wife and two sons. All of a sudden, Ceglia and his family vanished. An elaborate contraption, rigged up to a ceiling was used to keep the ankle bracelet moving, while Ceglia left his home undetected.
"I haven't seen something that sophisticated," said the U.S. Marshal for WNY, Charles Salina, "I do think that they are together because there has been no sightings of the wife and kids."
Meantime Ceglia's attorney says Ceglia's parents have left the area to look for their son. In Wellsville, the Allegany County treasurer says several properties belonging to the Ceglia family have fallen into foreclosure because of back taxes.
One apartment building on East Genesee Street in Wellsville, where one resident still lives will hit the auction block this Saturday. County officials say they've received strong interest in this property.
Plus this two-family residential home on Eaton Court in Wellsville will also be put up for bid. And then there's nearly an acre of vacant land, near Paul Ceglia's old home on Hanover Hill Road in the township of Wellsville that will also be up for sale -- the lot was actually on the auction block last year, but nobody bought it.
Allegany County officials say the Ceglia's owe $37,000 total in back taxes on these properties. Part of the back taxes may be recovered during auction.
As for the Ceglia's whereabouts, U.S. Marshals say they're still looking and that tips are frequently received.
"The case does not go cold I can assure you and the public that this case is not sitting on the bottom of a pile," Salina said.
The auction begins Saturday morning at the Genesee Valley Central School in Belmont, NY, that's just by Wellsville. If you have any info about Ceglia's whereabouts, you're asked to call the U.S. Marshals, at 1-800-336-0102.