This extradition is true testament to the global reach of IRS Criminal Investigation and our incredible investigative partnerships in the DEA Strikeforce,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Fattorusso.Īs alleged in a superseding indictment, the defendant was the leader of a sophisticated criminal organization that engaged in a wide range of activities traditionally associated with organized crime, including extortion, arson, assault, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, loansharking and wire fraud. Extortion, narcotics trafficking, assault, and arson-setting fire to an apartment building for vengeance-are just a sample of the charges against Zelinger, the alleged leader of an organized crime mob in Brooklyn. “Today points to just the beginning for Viktor Zelinger as he was returned to the United States to face justice for years of alleged criminal activity.
I applaud the DEA Strike Force and all of our law enforcement partners on their diligence throughout this investigation,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Tarentino. This extradition demonstrates DEA’s global reach and perseverance, as well as our commitment to the rule of law. As a prominent leader in the ‘Thieves in Law,’ Zelinger held the decision-making power in New York further enabling organized crime around the world. “When Viktor Zelinger stepped onto American soil, all the alleged crimes he is charged with became a reality after years on the run. Peace thanked the Swiss government for its assistance with Zelinger’s arrest and extradition, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) for its investigation of the charged arson and heroic efforts in rescuing residents trapped in an apartment building as a result of that blaze. Zelinger’s underlings were arrested by our law enforcement partners and prosecuted by this Office, and now he will learn the serious consequences for his crimes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As alleged, Zelinger was a ruthless leader of a violent criminal syndicate that wreaked havoc throughout Brooklyn with seeming impunity, including an arson in the middle of the night that endangered civilians and firefighters. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), announced the extradition. citizen with dual Ukrainian citizenship, is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow in federal court in Brooklyn before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.īreon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Zelinger is charged with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, arson, arson conspiracy, illegal gambling, illegal gambling conspiracy, extortionate collection of credit and two counts of extortionate collection of credit conspiracy. Viktor Zelinger, also known as “Vitya” and “Vityok,” the alleged leader of an Eastern European organized crime syndicate that operated in the Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island neighborhoods of Brooklyn and was linked to high-level Russian mafia members known as “Thieves in Law” or “Thieves,” was extradited today from Switzerland to the United States on a nine-count superseding indictment.
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