Narco-Money Launderer and Cyber Exploiter Extradited to the United States from Cyprus

A Lebanese national named Ghassan Diab, wanted in Florida for the alleged laundering of drug proceeds to support Hezbollah, and a Cypriot national named Joshua Polloso Epifaniou, wanted in Arizona and Georgia for cyber intrusion and extortion, were both extradited to the United States from the Republic of Cyprus.

According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) release, Diab had been previously identified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division during “Operation reconquista,” a joint federal/state effort to target money laundering. However, his exact location was unknown at the time so an arrest was not made. Diab was apprehended on March 9, 2019 upon arriving to Cyprus and his extradition was approved on September 27, 2019.

Epifaniou was arrested in Cyprus in February of 2018 and is the first Cypriot national to be extradited by Cyprus to the United States. In 2013, Cyprus amended its constitution to allow the extradition of foreign nationals to other countries.

The Northern District of Georgia charged Epifanious with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud and identity theft, and extortion related to a protected computer. Epifaniou faces charges of conspiracy to commit computer hacking, obtaining information from a protected computer, intentional damage to a protected computer, and threatening to damage a protected computer in the District of Arizona.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division stated, “These successful extraditions demonstrate the commitment of the Department of Justice to support local, state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and our strong working relationship with dedicated foreign partners who assist in apprehending foreign fugitives wherever they may be hiding.”

The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance in securing the defendants’ extradition from Cyprus.  The U.S. Marshals Service helped bring them to the United States.

As Acting Assistant Attorney General Rabbitt explained in the DOJ release, “Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners in Cyprus, Ghassan Diab and Joshua Polloso Epifaniou will now be held accountable in the United States for their alleged crimes.”