On January 23, 2015, Patrol Police Department detained Alireza Al S. (1979) with dual American-Iranian citizenship at Tbilisi International Airport, wanted under Interpol Red Notice from September 13, 2011 based on the request of the United States. According to the Interpol Red Notice, Alireza Al S. was identified as possibly being dangerous, violent and wanted on an arrest warrant from the United States Superior Court of Orange County California.
Alizera Al S. was accused of: Domestic battery with corporal injury, Kidnapping, Criminal threats, Aggravated assault, False imprisonment, and Dissuading a witness from reporting a crime.
After identifying Alireza Al S, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office contacted the Embassy’s Resident Legal Advisor, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to determine whether the warrant was still valid and find out if the United States Government had any interest in making arrangement to extradite the mentioned person.
The U.S. Embassy informed the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia that the arrest warrant was still valid and thus officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs took the wanted person into pre-extradition custody based upon the Interpol Red Notice.
Between January 23, 2015 and May 3, 2015, the Federal Bureau of Investigation worked with the Ministry of Justice and Chief Prosecutor’s Office to secure approval to have the wanted person extradited back to the United States. On May 4, 2015, the Minister of Justice fully granted approval for the extradition request.
Between May 4 and June 12, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security cooperated with the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Corrections and the United States Marshals Service to extradite Alireza Al S.
On June 13, 2015, Deputy United States Marshals extradited Alireza Al S. from Georgia to the United States without incident.
According to the Information filed in the Superior Court of Orange County California, Alireza Al S. allegedly assaulted, threatened and falsely imprisoned his wife on or about July 6, 2010. After an argument, Alireza Al S. allegedly dragged her into the bathroom and tied her hands behind her back and bound her legs at the ankles using duct tape. Alireza Al S. also allegedly placed tape over his wife’s mouth and locked her in the bathroom. Later on the same day, Alireza Al S. allegedly threated his wife with a knife and told her if she contacted the police he would kill her. On the following day, Alireza Al S. allegedly ordered his wife not to leave their residence and confiscated her identification cards, her credit cards and keys. Later that day, a concerned co-worker visited the wife at home and they contacted the police. When authorities arrived at the home, they found evidence that domestic violence appeared to have occurred and discovered 20 surveillance cameras inside the residence which allegedly could be remotely monitored by Alireza Al S. from his mobile phone. A bench warrant was issued for Alireza Al S. on November 18, 2010.
The U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation and Legal Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Georgia Kathleen Canning stated- “We are here today to highlight the close legal and law enforcement cooperation between Georgia and the United States, and announce an excellent result of this important relationship. Thanks to the initiative and proactive engagement of Georgian law enforcement, this month we saw a dual US-Iranian citizen, Mr. Alireza Sazegari, extradited from Georgia back to the United States to face serious charges of domestic violence that took place in the US state of California in 2010. While Mr. Sazegari remains innocent until proven guilty, he now is in custody after fleeing the United States. He and his alleged victim will finally have their day in court. Domestic violence is a crime the FBI takes very seriously, and thanks to Georgian law enforcement's vigilant efforts and cooperation, our two countries have sent a very serious message to would-be perpetrators of domestic violence, and that is this: Individuals the world over should think long and hard before committing domestic violence crimes and fleeing to other countries to evade justice, because law enforcement agencies around the world are working hard and collaborating more than ever behind the scenes to ensure these fugitives are located, arrested, and returned to their countries to face justice”.
Michael Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Resident Legal Advisor at the US Embassy in Georgia stated- “I would like to echo the sentiments of our Legal Attache Kathleen Canning, and salute all of those in Georgian law enforcement who identified, apprehended, and helped extradite Mr. Sazegari back to the United States to face his very serious charges of domestic violence.Georgia's initiative and cooperation was truly exemplary in this case. Starting with the MOIA's Patrol Police Inspectors who identified Mr. Sazegari when he entered Georgia, to the Chief Prosecutor's Office who notified the US Embassy, the FBI, and the Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security of his entry, and finally the Ministry of Justice who helped process and ultimately approve the extradition of Mr. Sazegari back to the United States—all of these agencies played a vital role in ensuring an accused perpetrator of domestic violence faces justice for the serious crimes he allegedly committed five years ago in the United States. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and I would like to personally thank every Georgian public servant who was involved in this case for their hard work, their dedication, and leadership on this significant case. Without their efforts, an alleged perpetrator of domestic violence would still be a fugitive, on the loose instead of in custody and waiting for his day in court.”.
