MMA Fighter Who Took $92M Free from Jail

Let it be known that the phrases “biggest cash robbery in history” and “released from a Moroccan prison cell to freedom” finally appeared in print in the same sentence. And no, it’s not out of context. That’s the story of former MMA fighter Lee Murray (pictured below in pre-fight garb, not his standard issue duds courtesy of the folks in Morocco.) ↵

↵↵For those of you who aren’t familiar with the story -- and until a few hours ago, that included me -- here’s some background on what Murray did to land in this spot:↵

↵↵⇥Seven masked men with automatic weapons were involved in the 2006 heist, which began when two of the robbers abducted the bank’s manager. After the assailants forced their way into the high-security warehouse, they loaded the cash into three waiting trucks. Much of the loot was recovered, but approximately $40 million is still missing.↵⇥↵⇥Five of the assailants were captured and convicted at trial in London last year. Another alleged accomplice, close Murray friend Paul “The Enforcer” Allen, is currently in custody. But British prosecutors consider Murray, a former UFC star known as “Lightning Lee”, the prize.↵⇥

↵↵↵And how did Murray pull off such a brazen crime and walk away exactly? Well, British authorities were seeking extradition, but Lee claimed citizenship thanks to his father being born in Morocco, where the fighter fled following the robbery. And the court agreed with him.↵

↵↵Perhaps most amazing is the fact that when Murray fled to Morocco originally, he did not try to hide out. In fact, he reportedly lived “lavishly.” How does a person follow this up? Does he try to play chicken against a speeding train on tricycle? Does the world allow someone to cheat death twice like that?↵

↵↵We did learn one lesson. When you steal money that goes up into the eight-to-nine figure range, you do not stand around decorative water fountains exchanging sly, self-satisfied glances.↵

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