Panama's Former President Extradited From Miami

MIAMI, FL — Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who had been living in the Miami area, was handed over to Panamanian authorities on Monday following his arrest last year by U.S. Marshals at his Coral Gables home. The arrest was in response to an extradition request from Panama. Martinelli is facing multiple corruption charges in the country he led from July 2009 to 2014.

“Following a year of litigation in the United States, former Panamanian President Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal has been extradited to Panama to face charges of embezzlement and illegal wiretapping,” confirmed Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan of the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C. “This extradition is a testament to the Department of Justice’s commitment to honoring our extradition treaty obligations.

The former president is charged with interception of telecommunications without judicial authorization, tracking, persecution and surveillance without judicial authorization.

"A U.S. magistrate judge in the Southern District of Florida ruled that Martinelli could be extradited to Panama on the four Panamanian charges," according to federal prosecutors. "Martinelli then filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which the federal district court in the Southern District of Florida denied on Jan. 23, 2018."

U.S. Attorney Benjamin Greenberg of Miami said that the former president was extradited based on "Panama’s partnership with the United States."

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan issued a warrant ordering Martinelli’s surrender to Panamanian authorities following a review of the case.

"Today, the U.S. Marshals Service executed that warrant, transported Martinelli to Panama, and delivered him to the custody of Panamanian authorities," according to federal prosecutors. "With the extradition now complete, the case will now move forward in the Panamanian legal system and any finding of guilt or innocence will be made by Panamanian courts."

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Martinelli is accused of misappropriating Panamanian government resources to "illegally intercept and record the private communications of at least 150 individuals whom he identified as 'targets,' including his political allies and opponents and family members thereof; judges of Panama's Supreme Court of Justice and Electoral Tribunal; journalists; businessmen, including Martinelli Berrocal's business rivals; union activists; professional and civic association leaders', Martinelli Berrocal's mistress; and others," according to the complaint.

The document stated that the 66-year-old carried out his clandestine operations using equipment purchased with public funds and members of Panama's National Security Council.

"Martinelli Berrocal created and oversaw a sophisticated program that involved illegal wiretapping and other forms of surveillance through which he violated the privacy of his targets, learning intimate details of their personal and professional lives without their knowledge or consent and without authorization under Panamanian law," the document noted.

The extradition proceedings and subsequent appellate litigation were handled by Acting Associate Director Christopher J. Smith, Trial Attorney Rebecca A. Haciski of the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily M. Smachetti and Adam S. Fels of the Southern District of Florida with the support of OIA Assistant Director Magdalena Boynton and the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section.

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