Clifton Clayton’s simple scam has duped people throughout the Washington area, according to authorities.
He poses as a prospective buyer of a high-end automobile, takes the vehicle for a test spin, then never returns, authorities said.
So far the 34-year-old has driven off with a Cadillac Escalade in Fairfax County, a 2008 Corvette in Laurel, and a BMW from Prince George’s County, police said. Since 2007, he has been suspected in similar thefts in the District, Prince William County, Arlington and Alexandria.
Clayton, 34, is wanted in four jurisdictions and travels frequently between Maryland and Georgia. The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force would like the public’s assistance in capturing Clayton because they say he is mobile and commits his crimes wherever he travels.
“While he doesn’t have a very violent criminal history, with his history of bad checks and fraud, he’s just not going to stop until he’s caught,” said Matt Burke, supervisory inspector with the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. “We want to bring him in.”
Clayton has a long criminal history of arrests for fraud, identity theft, bad checks, assault and auto theft.
While Clayton may continue to use false identities, he has a distinctive looking “lazy eye” that authorities believe makes him easily recognizable. He is a heavy-set black man with blue eyes and wears glasses. He’s listed as 5-foot-7, 230 pounds.
Anyone with information on Clayton’s whereabouts can call the U.S. Marshals Service at 301-489-1705 or 800-336-0102.
The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, run by the U.S. Marshals Service, is composed of 28 federal, state and local agencies from Baltimore to Norfolk. The unit has captured 17,000 wanted fugitives since its creation in 2004.
