EXTRADITION OF ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000291

SIPDIS

PASS TO DOJ - GREGORY STEVENS
DEPT FOR: L/LEI, DOJ/OIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CJAN KCRM CASC HO MORRIS ARNOLD FREDERICK
SUBJECT: EXTRADITION OF ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 02824

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. (U) SUMMARY: ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS HAS AN ARREST
WARRANT OUTSTANDING IN THE U.S. FOR CONSPIRACY,
ILLEGAL CONCEALMENT OF ASSETS, MAKING FRAUDULENT AND
FALSE STATEMENTS, AND CONSPIRACY TO LAUNDER MONEY. ON
MARCH 18, 1992, MR. MORRIS FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINED
HONDURAN CITIZENSHIP BY CONCEALING HIS U.S. CRIMINAL
HISTORY IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID EXTRADITION, SINCE THE
HONDURAN CONSTITUTION FORBIDS EXTRADITION OF HONDURAN
NATIONALS. NEVERTHELESS, ON MARCH 7, 1995, THE USG
OFFICIALLY REQUESTED THE EXTRADITION OF ARNOLD
FREDERICK MORRIS. ON AUGUST 16, 1996, THE HONDURAN
ATTORNEY GENERAL REQUESTED REVOCATION OF MR. MORRIS'
HONDURAN CITIZENSHIP. SUBSEQUENTLY, MORRIS APPEALED
THIS DECISION THROUGH THE HONDURAN COURT SYSTEM. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) On February 9, 2004, Post received Official
Note number 060-2004-PGR from the Honduran Solicitor
General stating that the Court of Appeals of the
Administrative Court revoked the ruling of the
Administrative Court in San Pedro Sula, reaffirming
the resolution made by the Ministry of Government and
Justice, which cancelled Mr. Arnold Federick Morris'
Honduran naturalization. At the same time, orders
were issued to maintain immigration stops, the
Chancery was ordered to abstain from issuing a
passport and the Civil Registry was also ordered to
abstain from issuing a Honduran identification card to
Mr. Morris.


3. (SBU) The Solicitor General also informed that
they had received information that Mr. Morris was
preparing to flee that same weekend to Belize.


4. (U) POST WILL CONTINUE TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS CASE AS THEY ARISE.

PALMER