Montenegro Arrests US Fugitives Convicted in 18 Million Dollar Fraud

Montenegrin police officer on patrol in the capital Podgorica. Photo. BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

The US Justice Department said that Richard Ayvazyan, his wife, Marietta Terabelian, and his sister-in-law, Tamara Dadyan, were in detention in Montenegro. The Montenegrin Interior Ministry didn't respond to BIRN's request for arrest details by time of publication.

"They were arrested in Montenegro, and we are seeking their extradition," Nicole Navas Oxman, from the US Department of Justice, told media.

The three fugitives were among eight members of a California crime ring convicted of stealing more than 18 million dollars in COVID-19 relief loans.

According to US prosecutors, they used fake or stolen identities to submit fraudulent applications to receive about 150 relief loans from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. They used the stolen money to buy luxury homes, gold, diamonds and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Ayvazyan and his wife fled US justice last August as they awaited sentencing, leaved behind their three children. Ayvazyan was sentenced in absentia in November 2021 to 17 years in prison, while his wife was sentenced to six years.

The three fugitives were on the FBI's most-wanted list, and the Bureau was offering up to 20,000 dollars for information leading to their arrest.

Unlike its neighbours, Serbia and Croatia, Montenegro does not have an extradition treaty with the US. Bilateral negotiations on an agreement were initiated by Montenegro in 2019.

There have been some cases of extradition, however. In June 2020, Montenegro extradited a US citizen accused there of child pornography.

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