The former treasurer of the Pentucket Youth Football League who is accused of stealing $80,000 from the program has reportedly fled to a Middle Eastern country that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.
James Potenza, formerly of Wakefield, failed to show up for a pre-trial conference on Tuesday ahead of his trial scheduled for Oct. 10. Law enforcement officials received a warrant for Potenza after his failure to appear in court, reports Salem News.
The 55-year-old's lawyer appeared in court on Friday and told a judge that he is currently residing in Abu Dhabi after struggling to find work in the United States.
The prosecutor in the case reportedly voiced concern that Potenza had failed to show up to court over the past few months and that his former Groveland home had been sold on Aug. 28. The home was originall purchased under his mother's name because Potenza claimed to have bad credit.
While the U.S. maintains diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, they do not share an extradition treaty.
Potenza is accused of using an unauthorized ATM card to access the youth football program's accounts over a five-year period.
To read more: The Salem News
To read FOX 25's 2011 report on Potenza, click here.
