Cuba cooperates with U.S. by extraditing fugitive
Although Cuba and the United States have not yet established a formal extradition agreement for the repatriation of fugitives from justice, Cuba on Tuesday (Dec. 8) returned to the U.S. a man sought in Iowa on felony firearms charges who had fled to Cuba. He also faces charges in South Florida of stealing a motor boat to travel to Havana. A press release from the U.S. Marshals Service follows; Cuba’s Interior Ministry did not immediately issue a statement.
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Miami, FL – U.S. Marshal Amos Rojas Jr. of the Southern District of Florida and U.S. Marshal Michael R. Bladel of the Southern District of Iowa announce the arrest of Shawn Wegmann, a fugitive who fled to Cuba by boat in October. Wegmann is wanted by the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Iowa on a pre-trial release warrant stemming from felony firearms charges.
“Wegmann is the first fugitive who has been returned to the United States by the Cuban government after fleeing to Cuba since diplomatic relations began nearly a year ago” said U.S. Marshal Amos Rojas Jr.
Wegmann was residing with his spouse in Kirklin, Indiana, while out on bond. At some point on Oct. 23, Wegmann removed his GPS ankle monitor. Federal probation officers responded and found the device affixed to the bumper of a van in a Sam’s Club parking lot. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.
On October 31, 2015, Wegmann arrived in Cuba by boat, but was detained by Cuban authorities. On November 3, 2015, the U.S. Marshals Service was notified that Wegmann had been detained attempting to enter the country of Cuba.
On December 8, 2015, a team of U.S. Marshals flew to Havana, Cuba and Wegmann was transferred into the custody of U.S. Marshals Service at Jose Marti International Airport. He will be presented in a Miami federal court for an extradition hearing to face criminal charges in Iowa. Wegmann is facing three counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and three counts of Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
Wegmann’s arrest and expulsion were the result of efforts by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
