U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert | U.S. Department of Justice
A federal grand jury has indicted Eric Pree, 55, from San Francisco, on a charge of escaping custody. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Court documents reveal that in 2012, Pree was convicted of federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, receiving a sentence of 101 months. He was serving his sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary Atwater when he was discovered missing on January 29, 2017. Pree did not have permission to leave the facility and remained unaccounted for until his arrest.
Pree was apprehended in October 2024 in Walnut Creek. During his arrest, authorities found him with several cellphones, ID cards, debit and credit cards under different names, multiple driver's licenses, and a fake Harvard University Student ID. He is currently back in federal custody to serve the remainder of his original sentence while facing new charges related to his escape.
The investigation leading to Pree's indictment involved the Department of State and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting this case.
If found guilty of the escape charge, Pree could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines which consider various variables. It is important to note that these charges are allegations; Pree remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.