faked his death in a boating accident appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Joseph J. Schepis Jr., of South Carolina, arrived in Bermuda on March 21, stating his name as Adrian Lee Robinson and giving a false date of birth, Police prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy said.

At the time, he was given permission to spend six months on the Island.

However the 35-year-old was found to actually be Schepis after he appeared in court on theft charges earlier this week.

Schepis pleaded guilty to the charges laid against Robinson, which involved several thefts of scuba gear. It was ordered that he be remanded in custody until his fines were paid.

Police inquiries found Robinson's name was really Schepis and that he is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in the United States on matters of "some importance and severity''.

Insp. Duffy said that federal warrants have been issued by the states of Washington and South Carolina.

Yesterday, Schepis pleaded not guilty to entering Bermuda under false documentation on March 21 and attempting to pervert the course of justice on June 21.

He was remanded in custody for mention until July 3.