Case of Utah County teacher highlights challenges of foreign extradition matters

“A lot of people move to a different country, and they also change their identity, and they could be gone for years, maybe decades,” Skordas said.

According to Skordas, even proving a suspect’s identity can take significant time.

“You may have to have a witness or a police officer, or some sort of identification hearing in the country where the suspect is located, to show that he’s in fact the same person that you’re wanting in the United States,” Skordas said.

Skordas said in extradition cases, prosecutors will often weigh what the relationship or extradition agreements are with foreign countries and whether moving forward is financially worth it given the alleged crime.

“For a serious sex crime, violent crime or a homicide, the equation is different,” Skordas said. “The United States and the State of Utah will probably take whatever steps are necessary — even financially — to extradite that person from the other country back to Utah.”

While foreign extradition cases can often prove difficult, Skordas maintained they are also commonly successful even if it takes an extended amount of time.

“It’s hard to hide out, no matter who you are and no matter where you go,” Skordas said.

Gray pointed to the Rossi case as evidence that extradition efforts can be successful.

Prins Case

“Ricardo Prins — if he turns out to, in fact, be a Brazilian-born citizen and stays there, we’ll never be able to get him,” Gray said.

Gray said, however, if Brazil does not agree to eventually extradite Prins, prosecutors have additional options. He said he would likely work with federal authorities to obtain a “Red Notice,” which is effectively a worldwide warrant that puts police internationally on notice to watch for Prins and arrest him if he leaves Brazil.