Push Admin

McAfee antivirus founder found dead by suicide in Spanish jail: prison official

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/06/23/spain-usa-mcafee.jpg"/><figcaption>John McAfee, co-founder of McAfee Crypto Team and CEO of Luxcore and founder of McAfee Antivirus, speaks during an interview in Havana, Cuba, July 4, 2019. <em>Alexandre Meneghini, Reuters/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Antivirus software pioneer John McAfee was found dead in his jail cell in Spain on Wednesday, a prison official said, shortly after a court approved his extradition to the United States where he was wanted for tax evasion.</p><p>The 75-year-old was found dead in his cell in the Brians 2 penitentiary near Barcelona &quot;apparently from suicide&quot;, a spokeswoman for the prison system in the northeastern Catalonia region said, confirming media reports. </p><p>McAfee has been in jail in Spain since he was arrested at Barcelona airport in October 2020, just as he was about to board a flight to Istanbul. </p><p>He is alleged to have deliberately failed to file tax returns between 2014 and 2018, despite earning millions from consulting work, cryptocurrencies and selling the rights to his life story. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/07/21/antivirus-software-pioneer-mcafee-charged-by-us-with-cryptocurrency-fraud">Antivirus software pioneer McAfee charged by US with cryptocurrency fraud</a></li></ul><p>If convicted, he could have faced up to 30 years in prison. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/08/17/16/software-maverick-mcafee-warns-china-of-hacking-weakness">Software maverick McAfee warns China of hacking weakness</a></li></ul><p>In a statement, Catalonia&#x27;s regional justice department said only that an investigation had been opened after an unnamed 75-year-old inmate facing extradition to the United States was found dead in his cell at the prison.</p><p>&quot;Guards and medical staff intervened immediately to perform resuscitation measures but doctors eventually certified his death,&quot; the statement added.</p><p>Spain&#x27;s National Court earlier on Wednesday said it had approved McAfee&#x27;s extradition to the United States.</p><p>The decision could still have been appealed and the extradition would also have needed approval from the Spanish cabinet.</p><div><strong>- Crypto guru -</strong></div><p>According to the US extradition request filed in November and quoted in the ruling, McAfee earned more than 10 million euros ($12 million) in the four years in question, but never filed a tax return. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/25/21/cyberattacks-bigger-smarter-us-pipeline">Cyberattacks: Bigger, smarter, faster</a></li></ul><p>&quot;To conceal his income and assets from the Internal Revenue Service... the defendant ordered part of his income to be paid to straw men and placed property in their names,&quot; it said.</p><p>The Spanish court decision only referred to offenses that took place between 2016 and 2018. </p><p>Since making a fortune in the 1980s with the antivirus software that still bears his name, McAfee had become a self-styled cryptocurrency guru, claiming to make $2,000 a day. </p><p>He had more than 1 million followers on Twitter.</p><p>In a tweet on June 16, he said the US authorities believed he had &quot;hidden crypto&quot;.</p><p>&quot;I wish I did,&quot; he added. </p><p>&quot;My remaining assets are all seized. My friends evaporated through fear of association. I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing.&quot; </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/18/17/smart-appliances-under-threat-from-hackers-antivirus-firm">Smart appliances under threat from hackers: antivirus firm</a></li></ul><p>McAfee´s wife Janice has long complained that his time in jail was hard on both his physical and mental health.</p><p>&quot;The US authorities are determined to have John die in prison,&quot; she had tweeted on Sunday.</p><p>&quot;The media have continued to vilify him, per their narrative, and there is no hope for him ever having a fair trial in America,&quot; she added. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/30/20/online-dating-banking-and-shopping-top-pinoys-cybersecurity-concerns-survey">Online dating, banking and shopping top Pinoys cybersecurity concerns: survey</a></li></ul><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1712774" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div class="iwantbar"> </div>

<p>The antivirus software pioneer was found dead in his jail cell in Spain Wednesday, shortly after a court approved his extradition to the US where he was wanted for tax evasion.</p>

The antivirus software pioneer was found dead in his jail cell in Spain Wednesday, shortly after a court approved his extradition to the US where he was wanted for tax evasion.