Mastros win battle to skirt fraud charges; plan to retire in France

Michael and Linda Mastro have been fighting extradition from France and now it looks like they may have won their battle to skirt federal fraud charges.

There’s was one of the biggest bankruptcy cases in Washington state history, but a federal court says the real estate developer and his wife defrauded their creditors out of millions of dollars by hiding their assets.

Instead of facing the charges, the couple fled to France, where they’ve been fighting extradition since last year. A lower French court has denied the extradition and authorities there say they won’t try to appeal the decision.

The Mastros, through their attorney, say they’re now looking forward to retiring in peace. He also tells the Seattle Times, the couple plans to continue their fight to get back a pair of giant diamond rings valued at nearly $3 million.

KIRO Radio’s Seth Keller and Kim Shepard contributed to this report.