Businessman Michael Fine was extradited to the United States over the weekend, where he will stand trial on charges of wire fraud and bank fraud involving approximately 28 million dollars.
According to the U.S. indictment, over a period of several years through 2019, Fine allegedly defrauded banks and federal mortgage financing institutions in the United States, enabling companies he owned to obtain loans totaling about 28 million dollars. The federal investigation into Fine began in 2019 and, in August 2020, a Missouri grand jury indicted him on serious federal fraud charges.
Fine allegedly enabled companies he owned to obtain loans totaling about 28 million dollars
(Photo: shutterstock)
Fine is a U.S. citizen and never acquired Israeli citizenship. However, during the relevant period he lived in Israel and traveled frequently to the United States, where the alleged offenses were committed.
In July 2023, the International Department of the State Attorney's Office petitioned the Jerusalem District Court to declare Fine extraditable to the United States.
The Jerusalem District Court declared Fine extraditable in April 2024. After the Israeli Supreme Court rejected his appeal, the ruling became final. Following the signing of the extradition order, Fine was extradited to the United States over the weekend.
The extradition proceedings were handled by attorney Hana Leib of the International Department of the State Attorney's Office. The extradition was carried out in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Interpol unit within the Israel Police's Special Operations Division.