Biotech executive arrested in New York after two decades as fugitive
Immix Biopharma confirms termination of the executive, citing no material impact on operations following the US Marshals’ interception of his vessel.
Ronald Fischer, a 70-year-old former anesthesiologist and fugitive from Rhode Island, was arrested on July 16 in New York after evading justice for more than 20 years. Fischer had been living under the alias Richard Graydon, working as an executive in the biotechnology sector. He fled the United States in 2005 before his trial for first-degree sexual assault, for which he was later convicted in absentia.
The arrest occurred aboard a 56-foot sailing vessel called The Silver Lining, which was sailing on the East River in New York. US Marshals and the US Coast Guard intercepted the vessel and took Fischer into custody without incident. Police had previously described Fischer as a master yachtsman and world traveler, noting he had been featured on America’s Most Wanted and used more than a dozen aliases during his time on the run.
California-based Immix Biopharma filed an SEC disclosure on Monday confirming that Richard Graydon was terminated on Friday for reasons unrelated to his activities at the Company. Immix stated that due to Graydon’s short tenure, management believes there is no material effect on the business. The company had hired Graydon in March, describing him as a board-certified hematologist-oncologist with experience at major pharmaceutical firms.
Prior to his role at Immix, Seattle-based Atossa Therapeutics announced the hiring of Richard Graydon as its interim chief medical officer in October 2022. Atossa CEO Steven Quay stated at the time that Graydon’s experience in CAR-T cell therapy aligned with the company’s strategic direction. Stat reported that in 2017, Graydon self-published a book titled The Genetic Risks of Cancer: The Effects of DNA, Genomics and Inheritance on Aging and Survival.
Fischer’s legal troubles date back to 1994, when he pled guilty to assault and battery following an incident on his yacht, The Dreammaker, resulting in a suspended sentence and the revocation of his medical licenses. In 2005, he fled the United States days before closing arguments in a trial for first-degree sexual assault, which stemmed from an alleged incident on his yacht, Lion King. He was subsequently convicted in absentia and has been wanted for failure to appear and flight to avoid prosecution since.
