Israel to Judge: I Did Attempt Suicide

Painless or not, hedge-fund scammer couldn't off himself

By Newser Editors and Wire Services

Posted Jul 3, 2008 11:24 AM CDT

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Israel to Judge: I Did Attempt Suicide — Fugitive investor Samuel Israel leaves U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mass., after turning himself to authorities on Wednesday, July 2, 2008. (AP Photo/The Springfield Republican, Christopher Evans)

A hedge-fund cheat who faked his death to try to dodge a 20-year prison sentence has told a judge that he did actually try to commit suicide this week. Samuel Israel appeared in Manhattan federal court today for a new charge that could get him an extra 10 years.

A massive manhunt ended yesterday when Israel surrendered in Massachusetts. Israel disappeared on the day he was to report to prison. He abandoned his SUV on a bridge north of New York City with the words "Suicide is Painless" scrawled in dust on the hood. He was sentenced in April for conspiracy and fraud for scamming half a billion dollars from investors.

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