Oregon Congressman Becomes International Fugitive After Alleged Fraud
A Democratic congressman from Oregon, facing accusations of defrauding an elderly man out of $30,000, has fled the country with his son, becoming an international fugitive, according to authorities.
Melissa Fireside, a former Clackamas County Commissioner, reportedly escaped with the 9-year-old son of the Oregon attorney general, crossing into Mexico with a fake passport before booking a flight to Austria. Dan Rayfield mentioned on Friday, “Our biggest concern right now is the safety and well-being of this child.”
He added that they are collaborating with both local and federal law enforcement to locate Fireside and ensure she faces justice under Oregon law.
Fireside, who was released on conditional bail, has been charged with stealing from her mother’s boyfriend, an 83-year-old man who has since vanished. The Oregonian has reported on her situation.
Rayfield emphasized, “No one should be able to escape justice by crossing borders.”
Fireside was indicted in March for aggravated theft, forgery, and more, after allegedly misusing the identity of Arthur Petrone, a retired Safeway employee, to secure a loan and rob him.
Petrone, who lived off of a pension and Social Security payments, passed away in August.
At her arraignment, Fireside pleaded not guilty and was allowed to post bail with the condition that she would leave the state and not attend her court hearing.
However, investigators found she no longer resided at her home in Lexington, Oregon, prompting the state Department of Justice to file a motion to revoke her bail.
Authorities believe she crossed the border using counterfeit identity documents, including an Austrian passport. Travel records indicate she managed to secure a flight from Mexico to Austria.
How she acquired the Austrian passport remains unclear, adding another layer to an already puzzling situation. Melissa Fireside had only been elected to the council last year but resigned after just two months, following theft allegations. She’s now facing a trial set for December.
