Fugitives arrested in Las Vegas

Couple wanted for 1990s insurance fraud case in Iowa

Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 | 1:16 p.m.

Two people who have been on the run from federal authorities for nearly a decade were finally caught last Friday when they were trying to get Nevada drivers licenses in Las Vegas.

Federal fugitives Donald Earles, 69, and Catherine Papajohn, 67, were arrested at the state Department of Motor Vehicles at 2701 E. Sahara Avenue, according to the U.S. Marshal Service.

Authorities said Earles was attempting to obtain a false drivers license when DMV personnel became suspicious and took them into custody, where their true identities were obtained.

The two were wanted for an incident in the early '90s when Earles burned down a grocery store for insurance money and then used the U.S. Postal Service to commit insurance fraud, the marshals service said. They both pled guilty in 1999, in the District of Iowa, to charges of arson, mail fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.

Then Earles and Papajohn failed to show up for their sentencing, as Earles was released on bond to self-surrender and Papajohn was released on bond awaiting her conviction appeal.

“This is yet another example where joint agency efforts are apprehending fugitives who think they can hide in the Las Vegas community,” U.S. Marshal Gary Orton said.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Service-led Nevada Fugitive Investigative Strike team fugitive task force, as well as members of Las Vegas Metro, the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Nevada Department of Corrections, City of Las Vegas Marshals and A.T.F. booked Earles and Papajohn into the North Las Vegas Detention Center.