• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Monday, March 27, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
Dana Point Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Fundraiser
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Fundraiser
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
Dana Point Times
No Result
View All Result

Former DP Yacht Broker Arrested in Florida, Faces 58 Felony Charges

by Dana Point Times
May 15, 2013 8:58AM
in EYE ON DP, News Headlines
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Andrea Papagianis

Edward Fitzgerald. File Photo
Edward Fitzgerald. File Photo

Nearly four years after emptying his bank accounts and leaving Dana Point, a former-yacht broker was arrested in south Florida today and charged with defrauding 26 victims of more than $1.5 million, officials said.

Edward Sellers Fitzgerald, 60, a former south Orange County resident, was arrested today in Delray Beach, Fla.—north of Boca Raton—by the Delray Beach Police Department on a $1.6 million warrant from Orange County, said Farrah Emami, spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

A 27-year veteran of the yacht brokerage business, Fitzgerald is accused of operating a fraudulent investment and sale scheme, and is charged with a total of 58 felonies. Authorities say Fitzgerald emptied his bank accounts in July 2009 and disappeared without a trace.

Fitzgerald owned and operated a local brokerage, Dana Island Yacht Sales and Charters, which authorities believe he used to secure loans from investors under the guise of purchasing and selling yachts. After leaving in 2009, earlier reports indicate, Fitzgerald mailed letters to friends and employees claiming he hadn’t done anything illegal. The letters were post-marked from San Diego.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department became involved shortly thereafter when sources came forward with reports of missing money and Fitzgerald’s disappearance.

Sheriffs turned the investigation over to the District Attorney in 2011, said Sean O’Brien, the deputy district attorney prosecuting the case. Initial reports placed Fitzgerald in Hawaii, O’Brien said, but investigators with the DA’s Office were able to locate him in southern Florida.

O’Brien said they built their case for months before the local police department executed the county’s arrest warrant. Fitzgerald now awaits extradition.

O’Brien said Fitzgerald has two choices.

One would be to waive extradition, whereby sheriffs would travel to Florida to bring Fitzgerald back for booking in Orange County.

Two, Fitzgerald could fight extradition. If he goes this route, O’Brien said a Florida court would have to determine whether or not the man arrested is in fact Edward Fitzgerald. If a court in Florida confirms his identity, Gov. Jerry Brown will issue a request for Fitzgerald’s return to Calif. O’Brien said this could delay his return by two or three months.

According to the DA’s Office, Fitzgerald is charged with eight felony counts of theft from an elder, 14 counts of issuing non-sufficient checks with the intent to defraud, 17 counts of grand theft and 19 counts of using untrue statements in the purchase or sale of securities.

If convicted of all charges, Fitzgerald faces up to 58 years in state prison.

Related articles:

Where is Ed Fitzgerald? Three Years after Disappearance Victims Still Await Justice

Authorities Looking For Missing Dana Point Yacht Broker Accused of Fraud

 

 

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: Dana PointEd FitzgeraldFloridaOrange CountyOrange County District Attorney’s OfficeSheriff's DepartmentYacht Brokerage
ShareTweetPin

Dana Point Times

Related Posts

Bella Bazaar

Best of Dana Point: Bella Bazaar Takes Home ‘Best Home Décor’ in Dana Point, Banks on Harbor Location

March 27, 2023
A's Burgers

Best of Dana Point: Simply Satisfying—A’s Burgers’ Straightforward, Fresh-From-Scratch Approach Garners 15th Straight Burger Medal

March 25, 2023
GALLERY: Class of 2022 Celebrates Commencement

Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Seeking Scholarship Applicants

March 24, 2023
Dippity Donuts

Best of Dana Point: Dippity Donuts Delights Dana Point Residents

March 24, 2023
Next Post

CUSD School Bus Fee to Increase 20 Percent

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

DP Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the DP Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Dana Point Times
  • San Clemente Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • DP Chamber Directory

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Fundraiser
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.