Stephen Baird, once at the helm of S-Ray, Inc., stands accused of a hefty $10.7 million scam. Originally residing in Bainbridge Island, Washington, Baird has currently assumed the status of a fugitive, having dodged his sentencing date in U.S. District Court in Seattle. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman unveiled the warrant for Baird's arrest subsequent to his no-show, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Baird's deception began in 2012, attracting over 200 investors with a promise of a revolutionary dental device that he claimed was approved by the FDA. Instead of using the funds for this project, he spent over $5.7 million on a luxury lifestyle, including a fancy car and a waterfront home on Bainbridge Island. In court, upset investors shared their stories of loss and shattered dreams. One heartbreaking case involved a 94-year-old investor struggling to afford medication while facing financial ruin.
Baird pleaded guilty in May 2024, a resolution that floundered as he chose to forsake his judgment day. His evasion suggests additional charges stacking upon his already due penalties. Judge Richard A. Jones, recognizing the gravity of Baird's absence, authorized his immediate capture. The hunt for Baird is in the hands of the public now, with the FBI urging information on his whereabouts, contactable at 206-622-0460, seeking the duty agent. The chase, stemming from Baird's fraudulent past, is seeing the long arm of the law stretch out for restitution, including the seizure of a ranch in Terrebonne, Oregon that Baird had secured with his ill-gotten gains, confirmed by a preliminary forfeiture order from the court, according to the same press release.
A team from the FBI is dissecting the case, aided by the legal expertise of Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson and Jehiel Baer, in addition to Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
