NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A fugitive portrayed on a television show about unsolved crimes missed his TV debut, a starring role that led to his arrest in a case involving allegations the unemployed chef swindled nine wives.
The FBI arrested Louis Carlucci, 44, Thursday. A federal magistrate ordered Carlucci -- who went by the name 'Lewis Serra' in Nashville - held in jail pending extradition to New York on a warrant of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. New York City police have charged him with grand larceny.
The fugitive was featured in one of the segments of the NBC television show 'Unsolved Mysteries' Wednesday night. Several Nashville viewers thought the man looked familiar and phoned the FBI.
Carlucci told The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville that he missed the show because he was hosting a birthday party.
'But I do watch TV. I saw the show last week, but it never dawned on me that they'd run a show about me,' said Carlucci, who the newspaper reported appeared to be in a cheerful mood despite being in jail.
'I'm glad it's over. It's no fun being on the run,' he explained.
'Unsolved Mysteries,' which features three to four photographs of elusive villains and re-enactments of their crimes, has led to the arrest of seven of its 'stars,' said Wendy Bailey, producer of the segment featuring Carlucci.
Bailey, contacted in Los Angeles, told the newspaper that New York City police allege that the portly man with brown hair and a moustache has married nine times and fathered 30 children.
From the marriages the suspect is alleged to have fleeced women out of at least $1 million by draining their savings accounts, running their credit card bills up to the limit, and encouraging them to invest in jewelry, restaurants and cars.
Bailey said one of his favorite come-ons was to convince prospective spouses that he was dying of an incurable disease and had only a few months to live.
Carlucci denied the charges.
'Oh come on, they say I have a lot of wives and a bunch of children but, if that's true, God will be my witness,' he said.
One women claiming to be his wife appeared on the show.
'Barbara' said she met him in a Manhattan bar in 1981 and married him seven weeks later.
After six months of marriage, Carlucci left her after squandering $20,000 of her money, Barbara alleged.
She filed grand larceny charges against him, which led to the unlawful flight warrant two years later.
Carlucci, who lived in several states before settling in Nashville last September, offered no resistance when arrested, FBI agent Kent Brisby said.
'He missed the show,' Brisby said.
A similar show called 'Most Wanted,' is aired by Fox Broadcasting, and has also led to the arrest of several fugitives, according to Fox.
