Reliable police sources are reporting that Oregon authorities have been tracking Farhad "Fred" Monem, the former state prison food buyer who skipped away from authorities last month while under investigation for allegedly taking more than $1 million in bribes from vendors who sold food through Monem to the Corrections Department. According to the sources, Monem, whose last confirmed location was in Buffalo, New York about a month ago, is now currently under active surveillance in Ontario.

"The marshals and the Canadian mounties are very close to bringing Monem in," said one federal official, who requested anonymity. "Since he's from Iran, there are a couple of State Department hurdles that they have to get over, but he should be back in custody soon."

Officers familiar with the investigation report that Monem has been living under an assumed name, Jarrad "Jerry" Mehkitamil, and has purchased a Subway franchise (below right) in the Toronto suburb of Guelph. "It doesn't take much to get one of those started," said one FBI source. "Plus, with his connections, he's got a real advantage. In most of those subs, it's basically the same meat that they serve in the pen."

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers, who last week filed a civil lawsuit against Monem and his wife, told reporters that he is confident the fleeing suspect will be brought to justice. "We've already filed liens on the Pepsi machine," Myers explained in a telephone interview, "and we're waiting for the right time to make a move on the cash register. We're hampered a little bit by the exchange rate between the U.S. and Canadian dollars right now, and the signs all say there's never more than 50 bucks in the store after dark. But we've got the situation well in hand."