5 ms·

> Not really the sharpest knife in the drawer, to do things like this and then to go holidaying in the USA with incriminating stuff on your person... The US co

> Not really the sharpest knife in the drawer, to do things like this and then to go holidaying in the USA with incriminating stuff on your person... The US could have gone after him any time it wanted in nearly any country, including his home in Portugal. They actually arrested him in the UK. This issue with the warrant when he entered was a procedural thing that appeared out of convenience. They could have cooperated with Portugal to get the equivalent done there. They just saw this low hanging fruit flagged on a flight manifest and was like "sure why not".

jacquesm 5y ago
I don't care about the US perspective, I care about his perspective, and for the life of me I can't imagine someone so incredibly convinced of their own ability to hide their tracks that they'd be involved in a multi-year effort like that and think it's smart to go visit the United States. It's not like that would be the first time someone got arrested on entry. If it can happen to the CEO of a large multinational it can happen to Joe Random Hacker at least as easily. The interesting thing is they didn't arrest him on the spot, but they might well have.
- Teandw 5y ago
  He was running one of the most 'successful' illegal forums for what 7 years? When you get away with something for so long, especially in an 'industry' where you know every law enforcement in the world is after you, I can see why you would easily think you're invincible and never getting caught. He was incredibly convinced of his own ability to hide his tracks because technically up to that point, his ability to hide his tracks was good. A self fulfilling prophecy of sorts.
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    Either that or he was spotted long ago, judged to be untouchable because he was still a minor and they let it go until they could charge him as an adult. The indictment documents a pretty lengthy sting operation.
sofixa 5y ago
I don't know if Portugal is like that too, but e.g. France doesn't extradite French citizens ( that's why Polanski run away here). Also i think it's a general EU rule not to extradite to countries with risk of torture and execution, and the US are experts at that. So it might not be as simple.
- smoe 5y ago
  Yes, Portugal is among the countries that does not extradite own citizens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extradition#Own_citizens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extradition#Own_citizens Edit: Actually Portugal seems to make an exemption for terrorism or international organised crime. The second one might apply here. https://fra.europa.eu/en/law-reference/constitution-portuguese-republic-17 https://fra.europa.eu/en/law-reference/constitution-portugue...

jacquesm 5y ago

I don't care about the US perspective, I care about his perspective, and for the life of me I can't imagine someone so incredibly convinced of their own ability to hide their tracks that they'd be involved in a multi-year effort like that and think it's smart to go visit the United States. It's not like that would be the first time someone got arrested on entry. If it can happen to the CEO of a large multinational it can happen to Joe Random Hacker at least as easily. The interesting thing is they didn't arrest him on the spot, but they might well have.

Teandw 5y ago
He was running one of the most 'successful' illegal forums for what 7 years? When you get away with something for so long, especially in an 'industry' where you know every law enforcement in the world is after you, I can see why you would easily think you're invincible and never getting caught. He was incredibly convinced of his own ability to hide his tracks because technically up to that point, his ability to hide his tracks was good. A self fulfilling prophecy of sorts.
- jacquesm 5y ago
  Either that or he was spotted long ago, judged to be untouchable because he was still a minor and they let it go until they could charge him as an adult. The indictment documents a pretty lengthy sting operation.

sofixa 5y ago

I don't know if Portugal is like that too, but e.g. France doesn't extradite French citizens ( that's why Polanski run away here). Also i think it's a general EU rule not to extradite to countries with risk of torture and execution, and the US are experts at that. So it might not be as simple.

smoe 5y ago
Yes, Portugal is among the countries that does not extradite own citizens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extradition#Own_citizens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extradition#Own_citizens Edit: Actually Portugal seems to make an exemption for terrorism or international organised crime. The second one might apply here. https://fra.europa.eu/en/law-reference/constitution-portuguese-republic-17 https://fra.europa.eu/en/law-reference/constitution-portugue...