Omid Tahvili is wanted for his alleged role as the owner and operator of a fraudulent telemarketing business in Vancouver, British Columbia, through which he obtained approximately $3 million from hundreds of primarily elderly victims in the United States. The business operated from 1999 to May of 2002. Tahvili and his co-conspirators allegedly informed the victims that they had either won or had a very good chance of winning a lottery, but that they would have to pay an advance fee in order to obtain the winnings. None of the victims received any of the promised winnings.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Tahvili on January 30, 2003, by the United States District Court, Central District of California, after he was charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, telemarketing fraud, and aiding and abetting.
On November 15, 2007, Tahvili escaped from a correctional institution in British Columbia, Canada, where he had been in custody since July of 2005 on an unrelated kidnap and assault charge. There is currently a Canada-wide arrest warrant related to the escape from custody.
Tahvili may be in Germany; Tehran, Iran; Toronto, Canada; or Spain. He may have a moustache and goatee. Tahvili is considered extremely dangerous.
Tahvili has tattoos on his right and left arms of the face of a small child, a tattoo of a large cross on his back that connects to a circular flame design over his right shoulder (see photos below), and a tattoo of a pointed flame design over his right arm just above his chest. He also has a scar above his right eye.
