CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
US
Crime + Justice
Energy + Environment
Extreme Weather
Space + Science
More
Crime + Justice Energy + Environment Extreme Weather Space + Science
Audio Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Topics You Follow
  • Log Out
Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account
My Account
  • Settings
  • Topics You Follow
  • Log Out
Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account

Live TV Audio
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Crime + Justice
Energy + Environment
Extreme Weather
Space + Science
Follow CNN

  • US
    • Crime + Justice
    • Energy + Environment
    • Extreme Weather
    • Space + Science
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • Politics
    • SCOTUS
    • Congress
    • Facts First
    • 2020 Election
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Video
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Market Movers
    • Fear & Greed
    • World Markets
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Before the Bell
    • Nightcap
  • Opinion
    • Political Op-Eds
    • Social Commentary
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Gadget
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Upstarts
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Pro Football
    • College Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Soccer
    • Olympics
    • Hockey
  • Videos
    • Live TV
    • Digital Studios
    • CNN Films
    • HLN
    • TV Schedule
    • TV Shows A-Z
    • CNNVR
  • CNN Underscored
    • Electronics
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home
    • Reviews
    • Deals
    • Money
    • Gifts
    • Travel
    • Outdoors
    • Pets
    • CNN Store
  • Coupons
  • More
    • Photos
    • Longform
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN
U.S.

Famous US extradition cases

Updated 7:09 PM EST, Thu January 19, 2017
Link Copied!
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/19/us/el-chapo-guzman-turned-over-to-us/index.html" target="_blank">has been extradited to the United States</a>, where he faces six indictments.
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has been extradited to the United States, where he faces six indictments.
Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Russia has said <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/24/world/europe/russia-snowden/" target="_blank">it won't send Edward Snowden back to the United States,</a> where the former National Security Agency contractor faces espionage charges for leaking classified documents. Russia offered him asylum in 2013.
Russia has said it won't send Edward Snowden back to the United States, where the former National Security Agency contractor faces espionage charges for leaking classified documents. Russia offered him asylum in 2013.
Juliet Linderman/AP
For years, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been fighting efforts to extradite him to Sweden, where he faces rape allegations. Assange, who denies the allegations and has never been charged, has been living inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012. If he leaves,<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/13/europe/wikileaks-assange-sweden-allegations/" target="_blank"> Assange has said he's afraid he'll be extradited to the United States,</a> where he could be charged and tried over the leaks of confidential US documents via his website.
For years, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been fighting efforts to extradite him to Sweden, where he faces rape allegations. Assange, who denies the allegations and has never been charged, has been living inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012. If he leaves, Assange has said he's afraid he'll be extradited to the United States, where he could be charged and tried over the leaks of confidential US documents via his website.
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/AP
The United Kingdom extradited radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri to the United States in 2012 <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/25/world/europe/abu-hamza-al-masri-profile/index.html" target="_blank">after a legal fight that lasted nearly a decade.</a> In 2015, a U.S. federal court convicted him of supporting al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists.
The United Kingdom extradited radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri to the United States in 2012 after a legal fight that lasted nearly a decade. In 2015, a U.S. federal court convicted him of supporting al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Computer hacker Gary McKinnon fought extradition to the United States for more than a decade. In 2012, the United Kingdom blocked his extradition. <a href="http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/16/uk-blocks-extradition-of-pentagon-hacker/" target="_blank">British Home Secretary Theresa May said</a> McKinnon's Asperger syndrome and depressive illness meant "there is such a high risk of him ending his own life that a decision to extradite would be incompatible with his human rights." McKinnon has admitted to breaking into computers at NASA and the Pentagon, but he said he did so to find out if the US government was covering up the existence of UFOs.
Computer hacker Gary McKinnon fought extradition to the United States for more than a decade. In 2012, the United Kingdom blocked his extradition. British Home Secretary Theresa May said McKinnon's Asperger syndrome and depressive illness meant "there is such a high risk of him ending his own life that a decision to extradite would be incompatible with his human rights." McKinnon has admitted to breaking into computers at NASA and the Pentagon, but he said he did so to find out if the US government was covering up the existence of UFOs.
John Stillwell/PA Wire/AP
Filmmaker Roman Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor in 1977, but he fled the United States before he was sentenced. Since then, he's successfully avoided arrest and extradition in Canada, France, Israel, Thailand and Switzerland. This year, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/31/europe/roman-polanski-poland-extradition-appeal/" target="_blank">prosecutors in Poland said they were reviving efforts to extradite</a> the 82-year-old filmmaker.
Filmmaker Roman Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor in 1977, but he fled the United States before he was sentenced. Since then, he's successfully avoided arrest and extradition in Canada, France, Israel, Thailand and Switzerland. This year, prosecutors in Poland said they were reviving efforts to extradite the 82-year-old filmmaker.
Jarek Praszkiewicz/AP
Cuba gave asylum to Joanne Chesimard, <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists/joanne-deborah-chesimard" target="_blank" target="_blank">who's on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists.</a> Chesimard, who's also known by the alias Assata Shakur, escaped from a prison in New Jersey, where she was convicted of killing a state trooper. US lawmakers have called for Cuba to extradite her.
Cuba gave asylum to Joanne Chesimard, who's on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists. Chesimard, who's also known by the alias Assata Shakur, escaped from a prison in New Jersey, where she was convicted of killing a state trooper. US lawmakers have called for Cuba to extradite her.
Asscociated Press
Thailand extradited arms dealer Viktor Bout to the United States <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/16/thailand.extradition/" target="_blank">in 2010,</a> drawing swift criticism from his native Russia, which called the extradition illegal. In 2012, Bout was sentenced to 25 years behind bars "for agreeing to provide a staggering number of military-grade weapons to an avowed terrorist organization committed to killing Americans," <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/justice/russia-us-viktor-bout-case/" target="_blank">prosecutors said at the time.</a> Bout, who some have dubbed the "merchant of death," denied any wrongdoing.
Thailand extradited arms dealer Viktor Bout to the United States in 2010, drawing swift criticism from his native Russia, which called the extradition illegal. In 2012, Bout was sentenced to 25 years behind bars "for agreeing to provide a staggering number of military-grade weapons to an avowed terrorist organization committed to killing Americans," prosecutors said at the time. Bout, who some have dubbed the "merchant of death," denied any wrongdoing.
Apichart Weerawong/AP
Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui was extradited to the United States in 2008. Two years later,<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/03/siddiqui.trial/" target="_blank"> she was convicted of attempting to kill Americans in Afghanistan</a> and sentenced to 86 years in prison. Prosecutors said Siddiqui shot at FBI agents and military officials while she was being held at an Afghan facility.
Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui was extradited to the United States in 2008. Two years later, she was convicted of attempting to kill Americans in Afghanistan and sentenced to 86 years in prison. Prosecutors said Siddiqui shot at FBI agents and military officials while she was being held at an Afghan facility.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The United States tried to convince Germany to extradite <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/hijacking-of-twa-flight-847" target="_blank" target="_blank">TWA Flight 847 hijacker Mohammed Hamadei</a> after his arrest there in 1987. Germany tried him instead, convicting him of murder, hostage-taking, assault and hijacking. He was sentenced to life, but he was released in 2005 and returned to Beirut. Now Hamadei is one of the FBI's most wanted men.
The United States tried to convince Germany to extradite TWA Flight 847 hijacker Mohammed Hamadei after his arrest there in 1987. Germany tried him instead, convicting him of murder, hostage-taking, assault and hijacking. He was sentenced to life, but he was released in 2005 and returned to Beirut. Now Hamadei is one of the FBI's most wanted men.
FBI
Ira Einhorn, a well-known hippie, environmentalist and anti-war activist, jumped bail and fled the United States after investigators accused him of murdering his girlfriend and stuffing her remains in a trunk. French authorities arrested him in 1997 and extradited him in 2001. The next year, a Philadelphia court <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/10/17/einhorn.trial/" target="_blank">found Einhorn guilty and sentenced him to life behind bars.</a>
Ira Einhorn, a well-known hippie, environmentalist and anti-war activist, jumped bail and fled the United States after investigators accused him of murdering his girlfriend and stuffing her remains in a trunk. French authorities arrested him in 1997 and extradited him in 2001. The next year, a Philadelphia court found Einhorn guilty and sentenced him to life behind bars.
BOB EDME/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar never was extradited to the United States. He died in a shootout with security forces in 1993. But during his reign as the head of the Medellin cartel, forcing the Colombian government to stop extraditions to the United States was <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/18/opinion/rempel-colombia-extradite-cartels/" target="_blank">a rallying cry Escobar used to form alliances with other criminal organizations.</a> Escobar famously said he preferred the grave in Colombia to a US prison cell.
Notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar never was extradited to the United States. He died in a shootout with security forces in 1993. But during his reign as the head of the Medellin cartel, forcing the Colombian government to stop extraditions to the United States was a rallying cry Escobar used to form alliances with other criminal organizations. Escobar famously said he preferred the grave in Colombia to a US prison cell.
AP
My Account
  • Settings
  • Topics You Follow
  • Log Out
Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account

Live TV Audio
  • US
    • Crime + Justice
    • Energy + Environment
    • Extreme Weather
    • Space + Science
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • Politics
    • The Biden Presidency
    • Facts First
    • US Elections
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Market Movers
    • Fear & Greed
    • World Markets
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Before the Bell
    • Nightcap
  • Opinion
    • Political Op-Eds
    • Social Commentary
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Gadget
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Upstarts
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Pro Football
    • College Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Soccer
    • Olympics
    • Hockey
  • Videos
    • Live TV
    • Digital Studios
    • CNN Films
    • HLN
    • TV Schedule
    • TV Shows A-Z
    • CNNVR
  • Audio
  • CNN Underscored
    • Electronics
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home
    • Reviews
    • Deals
    • Money
    • Gifts
    • Travel
    • Outdoors
    • Pets
    • CNN Store
  • Coupons
  • Weather
    • Climate
    • Storm Tracker
    • Wildfire Tracker
    • Video
  • More
    • Photos
    • Longform
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

US
Audio Live TV
Follow CNN
My Account
  • Settings
  • Topics You Follow
  • Log Out
Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2023 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.