Body finally found
The body of William Sean ‘Tony’ Creighton, founder of offshore sportsbook 5Dimes, has been found almost a year after he was kidnapped in Costa Rica.
Known in gaming circles as ‘5Dimes Tony’, the American bookmaker hadn’t been seen since he left work at 10pm on September 24, 2018. Creighton was allegedly abducted by four men who then demanded a $5 million ransom.
Despite his family reportedly paying one-fifth of the total ransom demanded in bitcoin, the whereabouts of the 5Dimes founder remained unknown until his remains were found last week.
Identified by authorities
According to the Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ), Creighton’s body was discovered in a cemetery in Quepos. This small fishing town is approximately 100 miles from where his vehicle was found.
As reported on ESPN, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed that Costa Rican authorities have identified the remains of a U.S. citizen. The statement also stated:
We offer our sincerest condolences to the family (of William Sean Creighton) on their loss.”
According to The Costa Rica Star online newspaper, Creighton’s remains were discovered in a modest cemetery. It has been reported that there was no name engraved on the tombstone.
$5 million ransom demanded
Speculation surrounds the moments leading up to the disappearance of Creighton. It has been widely reported that Costa Rican traffic officers signaled for him to pull over around 10pm on the evening he disappeared. Four men in a gray pickup truck then allegedly arrived and abducted him.
Other reports suggest that his Porsche Cayenne Turbo was rammed off the road before he was abducted. Whatever the circumstances, his relatives received a $5 million random the following day. According to the OIJ, Creighton’s family paid $1 million in bitcoin in a bid to secure his release.
Suspects arrested in Costa Rica and Spain
Unbeknown to the suspects, authorities tracked the $1 million bitcoin transfer. This resulted in a total of 12 suspects being arrested: three in Spain and nine in Costa Rica.
All three suspects arrested in Spain were extradited to Costa Rica in April. Jordan Morales was the alleged mastermind. Morales, his mother Guiselle Vega Aguirre, and another woman named Maria Fernanda Solis Chaves, are all awaiting trial. They are facing charges of extortive kidnapping.
authorities tracked the $1 million bitcoin transfer
The Office of Public Ministry is yet to announce if the suspects will face additional charges following the discovery of Creighton’s remains. Whether they do could depend on the result of an autopsy.
Who was ‘5Dimes Tony’?
Eager to follow in his father’s footsteps as a successful businessman, Creighton graduated from West Virginia University in 1998 with a business administration degree. It was only one year later that he decided to move to Costa Rica to launch 5Dimes, one of the most well-known offshore sportsbooks.
From the 5Dimes headquarters in San Pedro, Creighton assembled a team of technical geniuses who helped him serve U.S bettors for more than two decades.
