ROMANIAN FUGITIVE WANTED FOR TRAFFICKING OF A MINOR AND RAPE EXTRADITED TO ITALY

TUCSON, Ariz. – Giuliano Matei, 34, of Romania was ordered extradited to the Republic of Italy by U.S. Magistrate Judge D. Thomas Ferraro on Feb. 21, 2012, to face charges of Trafficking of a Minor and Rape. He was held in federal custody without bond following his arrest by Deputy U.S. Marshals in Florence, Ariz., on Nov. 25, 2011, prior to his extradition to Italy.

Based on official extradition documents provided to the United States government by Italy through diplomatic channels, the extradition request alleged that, for several weeks prior to and including Nov. 8, 2008, Matei threatened a 17 year old female to induce her to travel from Romania to Italy, where he forced her to steal items that he would later resell.  When she objected to stealing, Matei allegedly raped her and threatened her with prostitution.  The minor female was able to escape and contacted Italian police. Matei, however, could not be located and he fled from Italy.  In cooperation with Interpol and Phoenix Police Department officers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Matei in Phoenix, Ariz. on Oct. 27, 2011.  On Nov. 25, 2011, the U.S. Marshals Service executed a provisional arrest warrant for Matei. 

The extradition was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rui Wang, District of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of the Italian government, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, Interpol, Phoenix Police Department, City of Surprise Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-11-10173M              
RELEASE NUMBER:   2012-047 (Matei)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/