By admin 
YAVAPAI COUNTY, AZ (AZFamily) — Authorities are on the hunt for a Prescott man who fled a trial after he was indicted for fabricating a kidnapping in order to hide his gambling debt.
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Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane announced Mark Michael Ellis, 33, was indicted by a grand jury on May 7 on several charges related to a hoax that he devised to try to get thousands of dollars from his employer.
“My office will always vigorously prosecute people who try to defraud others or take criminal advantage of someone else’s kindness,” McGrane said. “If Mr. Ellis had taken personal responsibility for his drug and gambling problem and sought treatment, he would not be facing prison. I encourage anyone with a drug or gambling addiction to seek treatment before it ruins your life and the lives of your family.”
A release from McGrane’s office says the Yavapai County Sherriff’s Office (YCSO) started looking into Ellis on Jan. 8, 2025, when he sent his employer several texts claiming he was kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel and needed over $17,000 wired into his account, or else he would be killed.
The employer immediately notified YCSO, who began investigating the case. During the investigation, Ellis allegedly admitted to YCSO that he lost over $15,000 by gambling and created this kidnapping hoax to try to get the money.
Detectives found Ellis at his home along with his girlfriend, who YCSO says did not know of her boyfriend’s reported kidnapping. Ellis then admitted to making up the story in an attempt to cover the gambling losses, YCSO said.
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YCSO detectives also found heroin-related drug paraphernalia, and Ellis allegedly admitted to using methamphetamine while texting his employer.
The attorney’s office said Ellis fled during the trial, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Anyone with information on Ellis’s location is asked to call YCSO at (928) 771-3260.
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