The fugitive well known along the Appalachian trail | The Woodsman Hut | Forums

Wonder how many other criminals hide out on the AT

One of the FBI's most wanted white collar criminals hid for years in plain sight along the well-traversed Appalachian trail. But a trail tradition may have protected his secret even as he made friends along the hike.

James T Hammes had eluded the law for years. Since 2009, he had been on the run for allegedly embezzling more than $8.7m (£5.6m) from a Pepsi bottling plant.

But when he was finally apprehended earlier this month, it turned out he had been a well-known figure on the Appalachian trail who went only by the name of "Bismarck".

"Bismarck was by hiking standards more honest than most hikers I've encountered from my experience," Karl Humbarger, who knew Hammes as a "work for stay" resident at his hostel, commented on a news story.

Known on the trail as an honest and religious man, his fellow hikers were shocked to find out their "super nice" comrade had been featured on America's Most Wanted and American Greed: The Fugitives.

more http://www.bbc.com/n.....e-32856626