US Fugitive Expelled From Cuba After 42 Years
Convicted Of Mail Fraud In Central Florida In 1964
Brian Andrews
Reporting
(CBS4) MIAMI A convicted criminal who fled to Cuba in the mid 60's to avoid
prison for crimes in Florida was returned to Miami Wednesday, after he was
kicked out of the country by Castro's government, an almost unprecedented
action by a country that has been a haven for fugitives from US justice.
70-year-old Joseph Adjmi arrived late Wednesday morning on a routine
commercial charter flight from Havana to Miami International Airport, and
was immediately taken into custody by agents of the US Diplomatic Security
Service. He was put aboard by officials in Havana shortly after he was
released from a Cuban prison, where he had been serving time for crimes
committed there
"You can run, but you can't hide," DSS agent Ed Moreno told CBS4's Brian
Andrews as Adjmi arrived at the airport.
Adjmi last saw Florida in 1964, shortly after he was convicted of mail fraud
in the US District Court for Central Florida. US officials say Adjmi was
released on bond prior to the start of his person term, but he never arrived
at his final court appearance.
Adjmi was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but he fled to Cuba using forged
documents, US officials say, and was allowed to stay by Castro's government.
However, during his stay Cuban officials say he committed crimes that landed
him in a Cuban prison.
In 2006, officials at the US Interests Section in Havana were contacted by
Cuban officials, who said they had Adjmi in custody and were preparing to
release him from prison, at which time they planned to expel him from Cuba.
US officials were asked to take him back, and agreed, resulting in
Wednesday's flight.
Adjmi had to be carried from the plane and into a US vehicle. He was
transferred to a Miami-Dade fire rescue ambulance after complaining of chest
pains, and was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson memorial Hospital.
The extradition of Adjmi is a highly unusual event. The US State Department
notes Cuba is known for harboring US fugitives. " In previous years, the
government responded to requests to extradite U.S. fugitives by stating that
approval would be contingent upon the U.S. returning wanted Cuban
criminals," the State Department says on its website. "U.S. fugitives range
from convicted murderers, two of whom killed police officers, to numerous
hijackers. Most of those fugitives entered Cuba in the 1970s."
One famous US fugitive still in Cuba is Robert Vesco, a US financier in the
70's who was investigated for securities fraud. Vesco tried to make the
investigation go away by making an illegal campaign contribution to the
campaign of Richard Nixon, but the scheme backfired and he fled the country
in 1973.
A decade later, after stops in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Vesco was allowed
into Cuba for medical treatment, but ran afoul of Cuban authorities after he
became involved in AIDS drug scheme. Vesco was convicted in 1996 to 13 years
in custody, where he remains.
It's not known if Vesco could face the same fate on his release from Cuban
prison in 2009.
Click to read the original indictments and warrants (PDF)
http://cbs4.com/misc/local_file_115162440
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