The boss driving a Ferrari behind a fraud that cost £ 21 million was hunted by police in Brazil.
Anthony Jon Domingo Armstrong-Emery disappeared when 850 investors who usually paid £ 23,000 were eliminated.
They raised money into the Ponzi scheme run by EcoHouse Developments Ltd.
It is claimed to sell affordable social housing in South America. But nothing was sold and after Brazilian police stepped in an investment company – based in Richmond, South West London – it went bankrupt.
Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Armstrong-Emery, who has links to Gibraltar, and his sister, Gabriela Madeiros.
Londoner Armstrong-Emery, 41, was banned from running the company for 14 years last year.
He is thought to have made his fortune by selling homes to expatriates in Spain.
In Monte Carlo he was known for driving a red Ferrari 458 Italia for £ 175,000. And on a visit to Brazil he was ushered in 4×4 with armed guards.
EcoHouse is claimed to be part of a legitimate government project called Minha Casa, Minha Vida (My House, My Life), which aims to move families from slum cities to homes with water and electricity.
British lawyer Charles Valentine Fraser-Macnamara is a director at the company, which was founded in May 2010.
He was shocked after the Attorney Regulations Authority ruled that investment was a fraud.
Only £ 5 million was paid to investors – often approached via a timeshare mailing list. They expect their money back plus 20 percent profit after one year.
Victims were alerted in 2013 when concerns were posted online.
Brazilian police moved and EcoHouse ceased operations in November 2014.
That was put into liquidation after a statement filed at Companies House in January 2015 recorded a debt of £ 21.4 million.
Tory MP Nigel Evans has written to the Attorney General and Attorney General asking for help for investors.