Hotham investigation continues, officials say

Federal authorities remained closemouthed Thursday about their search for missing Bangor accountant Roderick Hotham, except to say that the investigation was continuing.

“So far, nothing has come of it,” admitted Special Agent Bill McMullin of the FBI’s Boston office. McMullin said he didn’t want to comment specifically about the search, where it’s being conducted or what has occurred so far. “We don’t want to tip our hand.”

U.S Attorney Richard Cohen echoed the same comments, saying that nothing new has occurred in the investigation.

Hotham’s indictment last month on multiple charges of bank fraud and money laundering was made public Monday by federal authorities. He is alleged to have defrauded five financial institutions and reportedly was involved in a $1.7-million money-laundering scheme.

Hotham was reported missing by his family, who was concerned he may have come to some harm, to the Bangor Police Department in September. He reportedly was driving a blue van at the time of his disappearance.

“We have not seen him since we have been told to exercise the arrest warrant,” said McMullin. Asked if FBI agents still were looking for the blue van, he said, “Cars are easy enough to shed — we have to stick with the person first of all.”

The FBI agent said that “more than just the Boston office” has been involved in the search. McMullin said that the FBI’s Boston office covered Maine, New Hampshire, Massachussetts, and Rhode Island, indicating that the search has been conducted beyond that area.

The investigation is at the same level of intensity, and hasn’t been scaled down, said McMullin.

“We are and have been pursuing any and all leads to locate and apprehend him,” said the special agent.

Federal prosecutors could initiate an investigation into Hotham’s being a fugitive from justice through a federal grand jury. Cohen said, however, that while such an investigation was possible, it was “premature to even think about that.”

The case would have to meet certain criteria, such as “an indication that somebody was harboring a fugitive,” said the chief federal prosecutor.