Patrick Lee loses extradition appeal over US fraud charges

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Patrick Lee lost an appeal against his extradition to the US in the Court of Appeal, reported on 20 April 2016.

The US seeks to prosecute him for wire fraud, unlawful monetary transaction and aggravated identity theft, carrying a maximum prison sentence of up to 42 years.

Lee denies knowingly defrauding US banks and mortgage lenders through property loans that were never repaid.

The High Court ordered extradition in March 2015, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his argument that extradition was prohibited because he was outside the US and living in Ireland when some alleged offences occurred.

On 20 April 2016, he was freed on conditional bail pending an application to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal.