Opinion ID: 778749
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Extradition

Text: 3 The United States submitted a formal request to the Republic of Costa Rica seeking the extradition of Campbell, also known as Roland Lavar Campbell. The request was supported by an affidavit by Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Charles W. Gerber dated June 7, 1996 (AUSA's Affidavit), together with, inter alia, a copy of the 33-count superseding indictment (indictment), which included 24 counts against Campbell; a copy of the warrant issued for Campbell's arrest; and the affidavit of a postal inspector describing the investigation and the evidence that led to the indictment. The AUSA's affidavit described, inter alia, the elements of and maximum penalties for the charges against Campbell, including the charges on which he was ultimately convicted, and it provided excerpts from the pertinent substantive and sentencing provisions of Title 18 of the United States Code. 4 In a decree dated October 1, 1996, the Costa Rican criminal court granted extradition, except with respect to possible charges of concealment and evasion that it would deem time-barred, and imposed the condition, inter alia, that Campbell would not be sentenced to more than 50 years' imprisonment. As translated, the decree stated, in pertinent part, as follows: 5 The extradition proceedings initiated by the Government of the Republic of the United States against RONALD LAVAR CAMPBELL, a.k.a. GEORGE CAMPBELL, RAMADAN AND RONALD CUTLER are approved, subject to the following conditions: That country's representative must give a formal promise covering the following: A — That the person extradited will not be subject to life imprisonment. B — That the person extradited will not be sentenced to death. C — That a copy of the sentence, duly translated and authenticated, will be sent to this country. D — That he will not receive a sentence of more than 50 years. E — That he will not be tried for crimes different from the ones for which this extradition is granted. The extradition is not granted for the crimes of concealment and evasion, which are time barred. 6 Decree of Third Criminal Court of San José dated October 1, 1996 (Extradition Decree) (quoted in Order of Costa Rican Superior Court of Criminal Cassation dated December 3, 1996 (Court of Criminal Cassation Order), at 1.) The Extradition Decree was in all respects confirmed on appeal by the Court of Criminal Cassation Order. 7 The United States Department of State, through the United States Embassy in Costa Rica, provided assurances to the Costa Rican government in a diplomatic note (State Department Note) stating, inter alia, that Campbell will not be sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment greater than 50 years. (State Department Note.) In addition, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued an order stating the following assurances: 8 Should the defendant be convicted of any of the crimes charged in the pending indictment in this District, the Court, having sole discretion over the sentence to be received by the defendant, agrees that it will not sentence the defendant to a term of life imprisonment. Nor will the Court impose any sentence pursuant to which the defendant would serve a term of imprisonment of greater than fifty years. 9 Order dated January 24, 1997 (Denis R. Hurley, Judge ) (1997 Order), at 2. Campbell was extradited to the United States in March 1997.