UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WUSA9) -- A Leesburg man who was a jailhouse informant while serving time for scamming banks out of millions was shot to death. 

Osama El-Atari was found dead Saturday inside his new Dodge Ram pickup truck in front of an abandoned home in Upper Marlboro just outside the Beltway.

El-Atari, 37, was reported missing by his family Thursday.

Investigators have been silent about details into the death of the former restauranteur and car collector. El-Atari is probably more well known for his role in a Ponzi scheme that managed to scam several banks out of $71 million.

In 2009, while in jail for stealing from the banks, El-Atari met former Marine Jorge Torrez, who told El-Atari he'd killed a young navy petty officer named Amanda Snell in a case that had gone cold in 2009. Torrez then admitted to killing two young girls in his hometown in Ohio.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WUSA9) -- Police are investigating a Va. scam artist who was shot dead in Prince George's County on Saturday afternoon.  

Police said 37-year-old Osama El-Atari of Leesburg was found inside of a pickup truck suffering from a gunshot wound.

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Va. man gets 12 years in prison for $53M fraud

Officials responded to the 9000 block of Armstrong Lane around 3:40 p.m.  

He was pronounced dead on the scene. 

Police said the victim was reported missing in Loudoun County.

El-Atari was sentenced 12 years in prison in 2010 for a plot that defrauded banks across the country of $53 million.

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WUSA9) -- How could a guy continue to drive with a traffic and criminal record that stretches back years and includes drunk driving and fleeing police?

The answer may have to do with his lawyer -- a guy who not only argues the law -- he writes it.

Maryland State Police say James Calero was drunk Thursday night when he plowed head-on into 20-year-old Adedire Olanrewaju Ososanya on Route 202 near Prince George's Community College.

Court records show Calero has a history of drunk and reckless driving and has also been accused of eluding police and fleeing the scene of the accident.