A veteran of the U.S. Navy from Houston, Texas, was released this week after being detained for over a year in a Thai prison, following a false accusation that he was the mastermind behind a Ponzi scheme.
Keller was on vacation in Thailand during the summer of 2018 when he was arrested on suspicion of heading up a large fraudulent organization that targeted Thai citizens. Keller was suspected of the crime because of acting work he did in a series of corporate videos for Eagle Gates Group Co. Ltd, which is under investigation for fraudulent activity. As a part-time actor, Keller had no knowledge of the inner-workings or function of the company that hired him for their videos. He faced decades in prison for his alleged crimes.
After desperate appeals to several U.S. politicians, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas, Keller remained imprisoned in Thailand until months of local coverage finally vindicated him in the eyes of the Thai legal system on Sept. 30. Keller’s first attempt to leave the country was thwarted by law enforcement who apprehended him again as he attempted to travel. Finally, U.S. Embassy officials escorted Keller onto an airplane bound for South Korea, where he arrived safely and was greeted by his wife and daughter.
“HUGE UPDATE!,” Tweeted KHOU reporter Lauren Talarico. “US Navy Veteran Derrick Keller is in South Korea and reunited with his wife and daughter. He had been in a Thai prison for 13 months for a crime he didn’t commit.”
HUGE UPDATE! US Navy Veteran Derrick Keller is in South Korea and reunited with his wife and daughter. He had been in a Thai prison for 13 months for a crime he didn’t commit. #khou11 #veteran #derrickkeller pic.twitter.com/DtTdk7uGzt
— Lauren Talarico (@KHOULauren) October 8, 2019
Keller and his family then arrived safely home to Texas on Wednesday. “Just landed in Texas safe and sound, back with his family,” his family and friends said in an emotional Facebook post. “There are not enough words for how happy we feel. As a family, we are taking a few days to decompress and process our emotions. Derrick is looking forward to seeing his family, friends and supporters soon. Thank you for all your support and prayers.”
