THE UK PR Firm Owner Who Is On America’s Most Wanted List

EPR Editorial TeamNov 3, 20152 min read

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THE UK PR Firm Owner Who Is On America’s Most Wanted List

Up until recently, U.S. ex pat, Jonathan Roberts (40) lived the life of a successful PR professional as a partner at C4 Digital Group, a growing firm with several offices, including one in New York. Acting as a contractor, Roberts worked with a variety of companies including London’s high-end Royal Horseguards Hotel and the global Guoman Hotels chain. Roberts also served on Thomas Cook’s Digital Advisory Board, eventually becoming the firm’s global head of social media. Jonathan Roberts first appeared in England officially in 2009 when he moved in with PR boss, Linda Scott (63), in a Hampshire village – Broughton. Using a communications degree from his university days, he reinvented himself as a social media expert. He and Ms. Scott then set about building their PR empire. Here’s the tricky part, Roberts is really Alan Giese, one of the FBI’s top 10 internationally wanted fugitives. Giese fled Orange County, California in 2007 while on bail for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy beginning in 1998 and continuing until 2002 when charges were filed. The Thomas Cook Company, who had no idea of his past, told the Mirror: “We were shocked and appalled to learn of these disturbing allegations.” C4 Digital Group, formerly Chapel PR, was founded by Giese and Ms. Scott in June 2012.

When the Mirror saw Giese sign on at his local police station as part of his bail conditions in July 2015 after he had been identified, he went straight his the office afterward and continued to work daily. Late in September he was still working in the PR agency, and reporters got a quote from one of the employees at the firm saying he was in the office that morning (9/25/15). The employee continued, “I’m essentially trying to find out if I have a job at the moment.” Local villagers expressed their shock when learning about the true identity of Giese, who they said ran a ‘Disney-themed’ film night at the village hall. There is no report about his activities for the last month or so. When Giese fled California, he left behind his wife and parents. All had believed in him, but his wife filed divorce proceedings shortly after he disappeared in 2007. She learned Giese cleared out their bank accounts and left her to pay off heavy debt, including $52,000 in charges she hadn’t known about before him leaving. The 13-year-old boy, now much older, still has not seen justice, and Giese is fighting extradition from England claiming it would be a violation of his rights as assured by the European Convention on Human Rights. If he’s convicted in California, he might be subject to “civil commitment.” Civil commitment applies in violent repeat sex offender cases keeping offenders locked up until they overcome their pedophile urges – which means they often are kept locked up long after their official sentence has been completed. He remains on the FBI’s most wanted list as of the writing of this article.

TagsCrisis Communications Social Media

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EPR Editorial Team

The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.