By PERRY CHIARAMONTE and JEANE MacINTOSH
June 21, 2008
Days before going on the lam, fugitive hedge-fund scammer Samuel Israel calmly took his newly purchased getaway RV to get inspected, and then tricked it out with a pricey stereo and navigation system, The Post has learned.
The financial con man - who has chronic back problems and a painkiller addiction - also filled a prescription at a local pharmacy before setting out for the Bear Mountain Bridge on June 9.
Israel - convicted of scamming $450 million from investors in his Bayou Group fund - abandoned his car on the bridge, faked a suicide and disappeared in his fancy mobile hideaway.
Israel bought the white, 2007 30-foot Coachmen Freelander for about $50,000 cash earlier in the month, and convinced the Long Island seller to let him keep the license plates.
On June 6, Israel showed up at Northern Auto Sound & Security in Bedford Hills and wanted a stereo installed, according to a store rep who asked not to be named.
Meanwhile, authorities said they are chasing down leads on reported sightings of the RV and Israel, who has been using the last names "Ryan" and "Clapp."
