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