ERO Boston apprehends fugitive wanted by Russian authorities for large-scale fraud charges

BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston apprehended a Russian fugitive wanted by authorities in his home country for large-scale fraud by an organized group. Deportation officers arrested the 34-year-old Russian fugitive near his residence in Chestnut Hill May 20.

“This individual was apparently part of an organized fraud group who is being sought by Russian authorities,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “He came to the U.S. in an attempt to evade the law in his own country. ERO Boston cannot allow the world’s criminals to use our New England communities as a sanctuary from justice. We will continue to work with law enforcement partners to apprehend and remove such offenders.”

U.S. Border Patrol arrested the Russian national and his family near Brownsville, Texas, on May 16, 2023, after they had unlawfully entered the United States. Border Patrol officials issued them a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. The family was later released on an order of recognizance.

Russian authorities issued an arrest warrant for the Russian fugitive Sept. 26, 2023, for the offense of large-scale fraud by an organized group.

Deportation officers from ERO Boston arrested the 34-year-old Russian fugitive near his residence in Chestnut Hill May 20. He will remain in ERO custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public with information regarding child sex offenders can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ERO Boston’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)