John McAfee, top antivirus software provider, is reported to have taken his own life in a Barcelona prison, after the Spanish high court authorised his extradition to the United State, Spanish news outlet, Elpais reports.
The 75-year-old founder of the anti-virus software firm McAfee Associates was discovered lifeless at his cell in Brians 2 jail in Sant Esteve de Sesrovires (Barcelona), according to police sources.
Prison surveillance operatives and medical services intervened to carry out resuscitation maneuvers but could not save his life, the Department of Justice said.
This is coming after the Spain’s Audiencia Nacional court had agreed to his extradition for alleged tax evasion.
McAfee had been held in custody on an international arrest warrant issued by the American authorities on October 3, 2020 at Barcelona’s El Prat airport as he prepared to board a flight to Turkey.
The arrest came at the request of the US justice, which accuses McAfee of evading millions of dollars in taxes from the profits allegedly obtained from activities such as cryptocurrency trading.
The judge of the National Court José de la Mata ordered his imprisonment and his extradition to the United States was already scheduled, the outlet said. (Photo: BBC)