John McAfee: US anti-virus tycoon found dead in prison

The Catalan Justice Department said in a statement that "everything indicates" McAfee took his own life

Anti-virus software creator, John McAfee, has been found dead in a prison cell in Barcelona. The news comes just hours after a Spanish national court ruled to extradite McAfee to the US, where he would face charges of tax evasion. McAfee, best-known for developing the first anti-virus software, was labelled as the industry's godfather. His company created a million-dollar brand, which in turn sparked a whole new market for anti-virus software. In October 2020, he was arrested in Spain and accused of failing to turn in his tax returns. The US prosecutors alleged that he had failed to report income made from promoting cryptocurrencies, as well as income from speaking engagements and selling the rights to his life story for a documentary.

The charges refer to the three fiscal years from 2016 to 2018, according to the Spanish court’s ruling on Wednesday.

The US Justice Department alleged McAfee evaded tax liability and concealed his valuable assets like yachts and real estate, in the name of others.

In a tweet on 16 June, McAfee said the US authorities believed he had “hidden crypto. I wish I did,” he said.

“My remaining assets are all seized. My friends evaporated through fear of association. I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing.”

  In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie