Former Yukoner arrested in UK more than 13 years after conviction

Gavel and handcuffs on law book

YUKON, Okla. (KFOR) – A former Yukon resident turned fugitive has been arrested in the United Kingdom, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Authorities say Mehran Koranki, 63, was originally convicted in 2010 of mail fraud and money laundering.

In February of that year, a federal grand jury returned a 53-count indictment against Koranki, charging him with multiple counts of mail fraud and money laundering.

According to the Justice Department, between February 2005 and March 2006, he owned two Oklahoma City companies that preserved, repaired and sold computer network parts. These companies had extended warranty agreements with another company called Nortel Networks, which allows them to obtain replacements for broken or defective parts.

In November 2010, officials said evidence presented during the jury trial alleged that Koranki's companies received equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars through the deal. The coins were then sold for profit, in violation of the agreement. After four days, the jury found Koranki guilty of 48 counts of mail fraud and two counts of money laundering.

After the verdicts were delivered and before the sentencing hearing, Koranki left the United States. He then sent a letter to the court in January 2011 that said in part: “I sincerely regret to inform you that I am no longer in the United States and will not be attending the sentencing hearing.” » Koranki has been a fugitive ever since.

On September 30, 2013, U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Koranki to 156 months in federal prison in his absence. Koranki was also ordered to pay $6,010, or $157.90, in restitution.

In November 2015, the United States submitted a formal request to the United Kingdom government to extradite Koranki. In February 2024, he was taken into custody pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice after boarding a flight from Doha, Qatar to Manchester, United Kingdom.

“Those who seek to escape justice will ultimately be caught and held accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Troester. “I commend the work of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the United Kingdom authorities for their tireless efforts to bring this case to an end.”

The Justice Department says Koranki subsequently consented to his extradition and that on June 3, 2024, the U.S. Marshal's Service brought him from the United Kingdom to the United States.

“No matter how far you run or how long you hide, the U.S. Marshals Service will exhaust all available resources to return international fugitives to justice in the United States,” said U.S. Marshal Johnny L. Kuhlman. “The arrest and extradition of this defendant is further evidence of the U.S. Marshals’ continued commitment to locating fugitives around the world. Ultimately, we never stop looking.