Software tycoon and playboy John McAfee has been arrested twice within a week in the Dominican Republic and faces extradition to the United States.
The first arrest on July 20 was on charges of keeping a considerable cache of firearms aboard his yacht, “The Great Mystery.” The arms and ammunition were confiscated by the Justice Ministry, according to Dominican Today.
McAfee, 73, claims to be on the run from the IRS because of tax evasion. He is wanted by the Belize authorities as a person of interest in a murder case although he has not been charged with murder. He is also accused in connection with a rape case.
McAfee, his wife Janice, 36, and four crew members were captured by local customs officers on July 20 as they docked in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. They were held for four days. It is not clear at this stage who exactly commissioned the arrests.
(3/4) If John misses his next check-in, events will be set into motion that I cannot prevent once they have begun. John has secreted data with individuals across the world. I know neither their identities or locations. They will release their payloads if John goes missing.
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) July 23, 2019
His 2020 presidential campaign manager, Rob Loggia-Ramirez, had temporarily taken over McAfee’s Twitter account. He posted the following message to Twitter, in a possible attempt to pressure authorities to set his boss free:
“If John misses his next check-in, events will be set into motion that I cannot prevent once they have begun. John has secreted data with individuals across the world. I know neither their identities or locations. They will release their payloads if John goes missing.”
But shortly after his release on that same day, apparently, McAfee was again arrested. The Immigration Directorate was processing the paperwork to hand him over to the U.S. authorities, Dominican Today reported.
My second arrest in one week – a record I think. pic.twitter.com/wOQ99nWGYC
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) July 25, 2019
McAfee has been at sea mostly since January this year because he feared being prosecuted over tax charges, according to Daily Mail.
He claimed the CIA sought his arrest earlier this month in Cuba, according to his message to Twitter, stating “the CIA attempted to collect them.”
The CIA has attempted to collect us. We are at sea now and will report more soon. I will continue to be dark for the next few days. pic.twitter.com/o79zsbxISl
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) July 19, 2019
McAffee was sentenced with a $25 million penalty in a wrongful death lawsuit. He has, however, always fiercely denied all allegations.
McAfee who made a fortune in the eighties by developing and selling his eponymous anti-virus software has always been a controversial figure because of his extravagant lifestyle.
He claims to have developed a cryptocurrency that is secure and unhackable. He suggested it could help the Cuban government dodge the American trade embargo against Cuba, the Mirror reported.
McAfee, who was born in England on an American Navy base, says he is running for the U.S. Presidency in 2020 and is simultaneously seeking British Priministership.
I Am a presidential candidate with 1.2 mil followers. My crime is not filing tax returns—not a crime. The rest is propaganda by the U.S. government to silence me. My voice is the voice of dissent. If I am silenced, dissent itself will be next.
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) July 19, 2019
McAfee took to the high seas in January, fleeing his heavily fortified Tennessee compound with wife Janice, 36, claiming a grand jury was preparing to indict him on tax-related charges.
