WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The FBI has announced the return to the United States of fugitive Lawrence Seth Wayne after his arrest and extradition from Israel.
According to the FBI, Wayne was convicted and found guilty on or around Nov. 20, 1998 for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida.
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On the same day, the FBI said Wayne was sentenced to serve 19 years in prison. He later fled the country while on bond pending appeal.
Wayne was located and arrested in Israel in 2010, and has been in custody since then, said FBI agents.
The FBI says they are bringing Wayne back to the U.S. on an unlawful flight to avoid prosecution warrant.
Wayne is currently in federal custody and is facing federal charges. According to the FBI, it is anticipated Wayne will have his initial appearance Friday morning in federal court in West Palm Beach.
The Israeli National Police, U.S. Marshal's Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office have assisted the FBI in this case.
According to the Israeli News Source, Haaretz.com, Wayne was extradited from Israel to the United States, only after American authorities agreed he would be provided with kosher food in prison.
Jerusalem District Court Judge Ben-Tzion Greenberger ruled that Wayne could not be extradited to a state that would violate his right to practice his religion.