Jan. 21, 2005 -- Graham Gill's two-year game of "catch me if you can" has ended.

Gill was captured in Spain last week and is awaiting extradition to Colorado from a prison in Madrid, Colorado officials said Tuesday.

Gill was indicted in 2002 on charges of racketeering and fraud in connection with a Black Hawk casino development in which dozens of Colorado residents lost $2.5 million.

Colorado investigator Bob Brown, who had tracked Gill after he fled to Europe in 2002, said the apprehension is sweet vindication.

"We literally pursued him to the ends of the earth," Brown said. "White-collar crime typically flies underneath the radar, but sometimes you get an operator as big as Gill. I'm pleased I was allowed to pursue him." Gill, 73, fled the U.S. shortly before Jefferson and Gilpin county grand juries indicted him and four others on charges of making false statements in connection with the sale of limited partnerships in the Colorado Mint Hotel and Casino, which was never built.

Two New York lawyers indicted with Gill were acquitted of all charges by a Colorado court in 2003. The jury found that the pair had been defrauded by Gill.

The two other defendants in the case pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and received probation.

Scotland Yard arrested Gill on Nov. 25 in London, but released him when Gill posted bond and promised to return to court on a specified day. Brown said Gill didn't show up for his court appearance.

FBI and European authorities then tracked Gill to Spain, where he was known to have several active bank accounts.

U.S. authorities found a business associate of Gill's in California who agreed to arrange a phony meeting Thursday at the Madrid airport.

When Gill arrived, authorities made the arrest.

Gill, who formerly lived in California, spent little time in Colorado but was able to use his British charm to con investors here, Brown said.

He immigrated to the U.S. in 1951 and later worked for Merrill Lynch. In the 1970s, he went to Europe and worked as a securities manager.

Extradition papers must be filed by the U.S. Department of Justice within the next two weeks.

But if Gill appeals the charges, as expected, it could take up to two years before he returns to Colorado, Brown said.

If convicted in the Colorado case, Gill could face eight to 25 years in prison and a $1 million fine, part of which would be used to pay back defrauded investors, Brown said.

-----To see more of The Denver Post, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.denverpost.com.

(c) 2005, The Denver Post. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail [email protected].