Israeli Businessman Michael Fine Extradited to US Over $28 Million Bank Fraud

Michael Fine, an American businessman residing in Israel, was extradited to the United States over the weekend to face charges of electronic fraud and bank fraud involving approximately $28 million. According to the US indictment, Fine committed these offenses over several years until 2019, defrauding banks and federal mortgage financing institutions by securing loans totaling around $28 million for companies he owned. The federal investigation into Fine began in 2019, and in August 2020, a Grand Jury in Missouri indicted him on serious federal fraud charges.

Fine is a US citizen who never acquired Israeli citizenship but lived in Israel during the relevant period and frequently traveled to the US, where the crimes occurred. In July 2023, Israel's International Department of the State Attorney's Office petitioned the Jerusalem District Court to declare Fine extraditable to the US. The court ruled in April 2024 to approve his extradition, and after Fine's appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected, the decision became final.

Following the final extradition order, Fine was handed over to US authorities over the weekend. The extradition process was managed by attorney Hanna Leib from the International Department of the State Attorney's Office, in cooperation with the Israeli Police and an Interpol unit within the Israeli Police's Special Assignments Division.