Lee Murray Sentenced 10 Years in Moroccan Jail

Murray is said to have masterminded the £53 million ($77 million) robbery of Kent Securitas depot in Tonbridge, England, in February 2006, then fled to Morocco, where he also has citizenship (Murray’s father is Moroccan).

According to the article, Kent officers began working with Moroccan authorities when it was established that Murray could not be extradited back to the U.K. to stand trial.

Murray, who submitted Jorge Rivera with a first-round armbar at UFC 48 and went the distance with middleweight champion Anderson Silva at Cage Rage 8 in 2004, was incarcerated in Morocco, but released and re-captured while officials determined where he could be tried.

The 30-year-old Murray, who survived a 2005 stabbing, is also known for his July 2002 street fight involving former UFC champion Tito Ortiz outside a London nightclub following UFC 38.

According to BBC News, Murray left authorities key evidence that helped lead to his arrest when he crashed his car a few days before the robbery and fled the scene with his cell phone still in the vehicle. Murray accidentally recorded a phone conversation about the heist with an accomplice, which was used by prosecutors, said BBC News.

Police have recovered £21 million from the arrest, where 14 Securitas staff were held at gunpoint by the group of robbers.

A Sports Illustrated article about Murray has been optioned by Time-Life Inc., for a potential film.