No U.S. prison time for Mastros, French judge rules
Feb 22, 2013, 11:37 AM | Updated: 12:32 pm
A court in France decided that Michael and Linda Mastro will not be extradited to the U.S. (AP Photo/file)
(AP Photo/file)
A judge in France has ruled in favor of a bankrupt Seattle real estate magnate and his wife, being detained on U.S. fraud and money laundering charges.
A court in France decided that Michael and Linda Mastro will not be extradited to the U.S. if it means they could go to prison. The Seattle Times quotes a French lawyer for the Mastros, who says a judge cited the Mastros declining health in making the ruling. Michael Mastro is in his 80s and his wife, Linda is in her 60s.
The Mastros fled the U.S. in June 2011 during bankruptcy proceedings in Seattle. They were arrested last October in the French Alps. Shortly after that, the Mastros were indicted by a federal grand jury on 43 counts of fraud and money laundering charges. They’ve been free on home detention in France since December.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Seattle says the court ruling in France is under review by the Department of Justice.
