Ronald Fischer Arrested After 21 Years: Former Anesthesiologist Convicted of Sexual Assault Worked at LA Biopharma Firm Under Alias

Former Rhode Island anesthesiologist Ronald L. Fischer, who fled during his 2005 sexual assault trial, was arrested on July 16 after spending more than 21 years after being on the run. Authorities say he had been living under the alias Richard Graydon and working as an executive at a Los Angeles-based biopharma company.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Fischer, 70, was taken into custody last week after federal authorities intercepted his 56-foot sailing vessel, The Silver Lining, off the coast of New York and New Jersey. Investigators allege he had been using the alias Richard Graydon while living in California and working as an executive at Immix Biopharma, a Los Angeles-based biotechnology company.

Fischer had been one of Rhode Island's most wanted fugitives since 2005 after fleeing during his trial on charges that he sexually assaulted a woman aboard his yacht in 2003.

Authorities said Fischer was accused of sexually assaulting a woman aboard his yacht, Lion King, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 2003.

He disappeared during his May 2005 trial before the jury reached its verdict. The court later convicted him in absentia of first-degree sexual assault. Following his disappearance, authorities issued warrants charging him with failure to appear and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Fischer remained on Rhode Island's Most Wanted list for more than 20 years while investigators continued searching for him.

The U.S. Marshals Service said investigators from the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, and other federal partners developed new intelligence on Fischer's whereabouts earlier this month.

Authorities spent nearly 48 hours verifying the information before tracing Fischer to the East Coast. With assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, officers intercepted The Silver Lining approximately an hour offshore and arrested him without incident.

In a statement, Wing Chau, U.S. Marshal for the District of Rhode Island, said:

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda added that Fischer would return to Rhode Island to face the consequences he had allegedly evaded for more than two decades.

Following Fischer's arrest, multiple media outlets reported that he had been living in Los Angeles under the name Richard Graydon and serving as Chief Medical Officer at Immix Biopharma.

In a filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Immix Biopharma disclosed that Richard Graydon's employment ended on July 17, 2026, stating that the termination was "for reasons unrelated to his activities at the company."

The company has not publicly commented on Fischer's arrest beyond the SEC filing.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Fischer used more than a dozen aliases while avoiding capture.

Authorities described him as a former anesthesiologist, an experienced yachtsman, and an international traveler. The sailboat on which he was arrested was registered under the Richard Graydon alias.

Investigators have not publicly disclosed how Fischer allegedly maintained the assumed identity for more than two decades or whether additional criminal charges related to identity fraud will be pursued.

Following media reports linking Richard Graydon to Fischer, Portnoy Law Firm announced that it had launched an investigation on behalf of investors into whether Immix Biopharma or certain company officials complied with federal securities laws.

The announcement followed reports that an executive serving under the name Richard Graydon was allegedly Ronald Fischer, a long-wanted fugitive.

As of publication, federal authorities have not accused Immix Biopharma of any wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed against the company or its executives in connection with Fischer's alleged use of an assumed identity.

In an interview with WRAL News, Cheryl Gingrich, the woman who accused Fischer of sexually assaulting her in 2003, said she had spent years working to recover from the trauma while authorities searched for him.

She said Fischer's arrest brought a renewed sense of closure after more than two decades.

Fischer is expected to be returned to Rhode Island, where he faces proceedings related to his 2005 conviction and outstanding warrants.

Reference:

1. United States Marshals Service. One of Rhode Island's Longest-Wanted Fugitive Captured After More Than 20 Years on the Run. News release, July 16, 2026. https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/press-release/one-of-rhode-islands-longest-wanted-fugitive-captured-after-more-20-years-run

2. United States Attorney's Office, District of Rhode Island. One of Rhode Island's Most Wanted Fugitive Captured After More Than 20 Years on the Run. News release. July 20, 2026. U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/pr/one-rhode-islands-most-wanted-fugitive-captured-after-more-20-years-run

(Rh/ARC/MSM)