A prominent media executive and suspected swindler is under house arrest today in Guam and facing extradition to Hawai'i where he is wanted for stealing funds from a landscaping company.

Evan Daniel Montvel-Cohen, 42, was arrested Tuesday at Guam International Airport on a $75,000 warrant stemming from a April 15 O'ahu grand jury indictment charging him with first- and second-degree theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, second-degree forgery, and money laundering.

Montvel-Cohen, managing director of Sorensen Media Group and president of Lotus Media Services, has an extradition hearing scheduled June 27 in the Superior Court of Guam.

The alleged offenses committed in Hawai'i occurred from June through November 2005 while Montvel-Cohen was business manager for Ultimate Innovations Inc.

According to a KUAM-TV report by Ronna Sweeney, the charges relate to three schemes: Montvel-Cohen's false representation that he paid Ultimate Innovation's state general excise tax of $30,000 causing the company to incur penalties for non-payment; making personal charges of $30,000 on a company credit card without permission of owner Brian Vidinhar, and stealing $300 from a petty cash fund.

The Hawai'i indictment is believed to be the first criminal action brought against Montvel-Cohen, who managed to elude prosecution in New York four years ago in a highly publicized scam.

Gina Tabonares of Marianas Variety News reported Superior Court Judge Robert Klitzkie placed Montvel-Cohen under house arrest after a doctor testified that putting him in jail is a medical risk due to his poor health. Assistant Attorney General David Rivera objected, noting Montvel-Cohen is a fugitive and should remain in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

While under house arrest, Montvel-Cohen was ordered to report to a probation officer once a week and surrender his passport, the Variety News reported.

In 2004, Montvel-Cohen was a director of Air America, a liberal radio network, and also development director of the Bronx-based Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club. Montvel-Cohen allegedly arranged for start-up loans for Air American from the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, which was bilked out of $875,000.