John McAfee, Antivirus Software Creator, Is Found Dead in Spanish Jail

Source: WSJ:

June 23, 2021 at 21:45

Spanish court had ordered his extradition to the U.S., where he faced tax-related criminal charges

John McAfee, the antivirus software pioneer who founded cybersecurity company McAfee, was found dead Wednesday in a jail cell in Spain, his attorney said.

A Spanish court earlier in the day ordered the extradition of Mr. McAfee, 75 years old, in connection with a federal criminal proceeding in Tennessee. Mr. McAfee had been detained in the country since October in connection with criminal charges filed in Tennessee by the Justice Department’s tax division.

The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office also sought the extradition of Mr. McAfee in a separate criminal case.

“John was and will always be remembered as a fighter,” said Nishay K. Sanan, an attorney representing Mr. McAfee in U.S. criminal proceedings. “He tried to love this country but the U.S. Government made his existence impossible.”

Mr. Sanan said the court ruling Wednesday would be appealed in the next few days.

Spanish authorities will investigate the cause and circumstances of Mr. McAfee’s death, according to a government official. In December, a court rejected a request by Mr. McAfee that he be freed, saying he was a flight risk and that remaining in the jail near Barcelona didn’t pose a risk to his health.