Authorities say they've arrested the former hotel owner of what was Peoria's Four Points at Sheraton.
The Florida businessman sought to flee on a private jet bound for Latin America days before his sentencing in Chicago.
33-year-old Nikesh Patel is cited as telling FBI Agents at the airport in Kissamee that he'd been granted asylum in Ecuador.
Patel was convicted on $179 million investment fraud in 2016. He'd been free on bond pending sentencing.
He already faced decades in prison. Patel now faces a new charge of flight to avoid prosecution. He's expected to be transferred from Florida to Chicago.
Patel's lawyer Tuesday declined comment.
