For Immediate Release

Tim Stec

Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal

Public Information Officer

803-253-3291  Tim.Stec@usdoj.gov

USMS Headquarters Public Affairs (202) 307-9065

Local Man Wanted by U.S. Marshals Featured on AMW.com

Abingdon, VA - Edward Porta, a former resident of the Spartanburg area, was the President of Porta Textiles and Porta Technologies, companies with extensive business contacts within the North American textile industry. On December 20, 2005, Porta pled guilty in the U.S. District Court in Asheville, North Carolina to the charge of Conspiracy to Defraud the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On May 2, 2007, Porta was sentenced to 38 months imprisonment for his role in the elaborate cotton import/export scheme that defrauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as banks and businesses in the U.S. and Mexico, to the tune of over 2.5 million dollars. On February 25, 2008, Porta was discovered missing following a scheduled prisoner count at the United States Penitentiary Lee County (VA) Satellite Camp. He has been on the run since that date and has been charged with Escape.

Now, U.S. Marshals, along with America’s Most Wanted, are seeking information from the public which can lead to the capture of Porta. Porta is being profiled this week on AMW.com, the website operated by the popular television show America’s Most Wanted. Viewers/Readers/Listeners are urged check out the website and contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-800-336-0102 or AMW at 1-800-CRIMETV with any information concerning Porta.

More information on the U.S. Marshals and their fugitive apprehension efforts can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.