The U.S. Department of Justice, working with law enforcement authorities in nine countries, has successfully extradited foreign nationals wanted in the U.S. for allegedly committing violent crimes in multiple U.S. states.
The fugitives were extradited from Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain and Thailand. They were wanted by authorities in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah on charges of murder, child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering and fraud, according to the DOJ.
Canada agreed to extradite 44-year-old Justin David Lanoue, wanted in Washington County, Utah, for 2015 charges of child rape and felony sexual abuse of a minor. The Washington County Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.
Colombia agreed to extradite 36-year-old Cristian Eduardo Garcia Jerez, wanted in the Northern District of Georgia on drug trafficking charges. He allegedly owned two cocaine processing laboratories, manufactured cocaine and oversaw the smuggling of it into the U.S.
Honduras agreed to extradite 53-year-old Rene Javier Santos Alfaro, wanted in the Southern District of Florida on alleged drug trafficking offenses. He is an alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization who imported large quantities of cocaine from Honduras directly into Miami using commercial aircraft, according to the charges.
Kosovo also agreed to extradite Ardit and Jetmir Kutleshi, wanted in the Western District of Pennsylvania on identity theft, access device fraud, and money laundering charges. They allegedly administered the illicit website based in Malaysia, Rydox cybercrime marketplace, selling stolen personal information, access devices, and 300,000 tools to commit cybercrime and fraud. A third alleged administrator, Kosovo national Shpend Sokoli, was arrested in Albania where he is being prosecuted, according to the complaint.
Mexican authorities agreed to extradite two of its citizens. One was wanted in Franklin County, Ohio. on murder, felonious assault and endangering children charges. He evaded arrest for more than 11 years after being charged in the 2013 death of his former girlfriend’s 3-year-old son. The other was wanted in the Northern District of Georgia for allegedly laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars for a Mexican drug trafficking organization selling methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the U.S.
Polish and German authorities, working through INTERPOL, extradited 24-year-old Dominik Rydz, a Polish citizen living in Germany wanted in Michigan for criminal sexual conduct in the second degree and unlawful imprisonment. His 2023 charges allege he lured a woman away from her friends at a social gathering, sexually assaulted her and prevened her from leaving. His extradition was first sought from Poland, but after Polish authorities released him from custody during proceedings, he fled to Germany. He was arrested in Germany through an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Spain extradited the notorious 31-year-old Swedish national Olof Kyros Gustafsson, otherwise known as “El Silencio,” wanted in California on multiple charges of conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, and money laundering. He has a 115-count federal indictment filed against him in the Central District of California, alleging he licensed the rights to use the name and persona of the late Colombian narco-terrorist Pablo Escobar to defraud investors around the world. As CEO of Escobar Inc., he allegedly marketed and sold the “Escobar Flamethrower, an Escobar Fold Phone, an Escobar Gold 11 Pro Phone, and Escobar Cash” (cryptocurrency), which were never delivered to customers because they didn’t exist, according to the charges.
Thailand extradited 46-year-old Tien Vy Tai Truong, an alleged leader of a transnational drug trafficking organization, wanted in the Central District of California. He faces conspiracy to export methamphetamine charges in a 2024 indictment after he allegedly negotiated with a DEA confidential informant to sell and export 200 pounds of methamphetamine from the U.S. to Australia.
Multiple agencies in other countries were involved in the extradition process, working with the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training staff and the U.S. Marshall’s Service.
