American philanthropist captured
The week's news at a glance.
Berlin
German police this week arrested Herbert Axelrod, a 77-year-old multimillionaire from New Jersey who was on the run for tax evasion. Axelrod, who made his money in pet products and pet-care books and then became a violin collector, is charged with defrauding the IRS. He is also accused of having vastly overestimated—by some $50 million—the value of several 17th-century Stradivarius violins that he donated to the Smithsonian Institution, though charges in that case have not been formally filed. Axelrod fled to Cuba in April and was then spotted in Switzerland, before being nabbed in Germany. If extradited and convicted in the U.S., he could face five years in prison.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
October 15 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Wednesday's political cartoons include new DOJ lawyers, trick or treating with ICE, and shaky foundations for peace
-
The Paul Thomas Anderson films to watch next
The Week Recommends Best movies from the director of One Battle After Another
-
Who are the new-wave hackers bringing the world to a halt?
The Explainer ‘Groups’ and ‘states’ are beginning to form concerning partnerships with new ways to commit cybercrime