David Friedland

David Friedland
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 32nd district
In office
January 1978 – April 11, 1980
Preceded byJoseph W. Tumulty
Succeeded byJames Anthony Galdieri
Member of the
New Jersey General Assembly
In office
1966–1974
ConstituencyHudson County (1966–68)
District 12B (1968–72)
12th district (1972–74)
Personal details
BornDecember 20, 1937
DiedApril 21, 2022(2022-04-21) (aged 84)
PartyDemocratic
RelativesBrute Force (brother)
EducationStevens Academy
Alma materTufts University
Rutgers School of Law

David Joel Friedland (December 20, 1937 – April 21, 2022) was an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who represented Hudson County, New Jersey in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1966 to 1974 and the New Jersey Senate from 1978 until his conviction on racketeering charges in 1980. While awaiting sentencing, Friedland disappeared in September 1985 by faking his death in a supposed drowning incident off Grand Bahama. He was one of the United States government's most wanted fugitives until 1987, when he was captured in the Maldives, where he had drawn attention to himself after establishing a successful chain of scuba diving shops.