SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A federal judge says there's enough evidence to continue to hold a man arrested this month in Ozark on suspicion of being a being a notorious robber from England. Edward Maher faces federal charges of illegally possessing four weapons. Illegal aliens aren't supposed to have weapons in the United States.
Maher appeared for a preliminary and detention hearing at the U.S. Courthouse before Magistrate James England. The judge ordered Maher to continued to be held until the case can be presented to a grand jury for a possible indictment to replace charges filed by prosecutors; that's a normal and required procedure in federal court cases. The judge also noted that U.S. Immigration officials want him to be held for possible deportation.
Maher, who is suspected of stealing more than 1 million pounds (about $1.6 million) from a bank in Felixstowe, England, in January 1993. English newspapers dubbed him "Fast Eddie." One reporter wrote just days before his arrest that Maher committed the "perfect crime" when he drove away in an armored delivery vehicle, ditched the vehicle, took bags of cash, flew out of the country with his girlfriend and young son, and vanished for 19 years.
Federal agents and Ozark police arrested him this month after police received a tip that Maher was living in Ozark illegally. He worked for a cable television company and lived in a modest home with his wife.
Upon his arrest, authorities seized several weapons, including a Hi-Point .45-caliber pistol, Jennings .380 pistol, Mauser 7.62x39 rifle and Mossberg .22-caliber rifle, from his home and a storage unit.
Maher was also known to have used the names Stephen King and Michael Maher -- his brother's name -- while in the United States, according to federal charging documents.
The U.S. Marshals Service is holding Maher in the Greene County jail in Springfield.
