(Atlanta, Georgia) – Matthew Bevan Cox, wanted for mortgage fraud and identity theft, with additional charges pending including conspiracy, stolen identification documents, mail and wire fraud, money laundering and social security number fraud, was arrested by the United States Secret Service today, November 16, 2006, in Nashville, Tennessee. The arrest was
made with the cooperation of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Cox’s initial appearance is scheduled to be held today, November 16, in the Middle District of Tennessee. The case will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern
District of Georgia with assistance from the Coweta County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office.
On August 6, 2004, arrest warrants were issued in Georgia for Matthew Bevan Cox and Rebecca M. Hauck. Hauck was arrested in Houston on March 21, 2006, and pleaded guilty to
conspiracy and bank fraud. Hauck was sentenced in the Northern District of Georgia on November 15, 2006, to nearly six years in prison and five years of supervised release. She
was also ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution.
Known by numerous aliases, it is alleged that Matthew Cox used elaborate schemes to avoid capture, including obtaining state-issued and counterfeit driver’s licenses. Cox was also a
fugitive from Hillsborough County, Florida and, federally in the Middle District of Florida since December 2003 for probation violation. Since becoming a fugitive, Cox may have
altered his appearance by undergoing plastic surgery.
Following a tip received from a source that had seen Cox’s photo on the Secret Service’s Most Wanted Fugitives website, agents from the Secret Service Nashville Field Office
apprehended Cox this morning.
Matthew Cox was placed on the U.S. Secret Service Most Wanted Fugitives list in May 2006.
The list of persons wanted by the Secret Service is available. Anyone with information regarding these
individuals should contact the Secret Service at 1-877-242-3375. The general public is cautioned not to attempt to apprehend any of these individuals. Contact the Secret Service or
local police or if overseas, the nearest U.S. Consulate if you have information regarding these cases.
It should be noted that the subject in this matter has only been charged with a criminal offense. Individuals are presumed innocent until being convicted in a criminal court.