By Michael Hasch

Published: Friday, February 24, 2012

The chief executive officer of Truclose Financial Services was arrested this afternoon by members of the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force in Atlantic City, where he fled after failing to appear for a hearing in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.

Jason Sheppard, 31, of Beechview, was arrested at about 3 p.m. in his casino hotel room, said Tad Thompson, a deputy marshal and task force member. A warrant for Sheppard's arrest was issued after he failed to appear for a revocation hearing on Tuesday, Thompson said.

Sheppard was awaiting sentencing for his conviction on wire fraud charges when he was accused of violating terms of his release by staying out past 6 p.m. while under electronic monitoring and drinking alcohol,• court papers show.

Truclose Financial specializes in closing real estate transactions. Sheppard admitted his failure to pay certain financial obligations arising from real estate settlements and pocketing the• money for his own use, according to court papers.

Sheppard also is awaiting trial in Common Pleas Court on charges of driving while intoxicated.

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