Former Quincy resident extradited from Sweden to face charges in MA

A former Quincy man has been extradited from Sweden to face charges in connection with his alleged obstruction of an investigation into a series of fires set at Jewish institutions in the Boston area, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Alexander Giannakakis, 37, was indicted in Boston in 2019 for making false statements in a matter involving domestic terrorism; falsifying, concealing and covering up a material fact in a matter involving domestic terrorism by trick, scheme and device; concealing records in a federal investigation; tampering with documents and objects; and tampering with an official proceeding.

The four fires occurred in 2019, with two at an Arlington Chabad Center, one at a Needham Chabad Center and one at a Jewish-affiliated business in Chelsea.

Giannakakis was arrested by Swedish authorities in a Stockholm suburb once the indictment was returned, officials said. The U.S. had planned to seek Giannakakis’ extradition to face charges in Boston.

His younger brother was the main suspect in the investigation into the fires in February 2020, but remained in a coma until his death later that year, officials said. Officials found out Giannakakis had left the U.S. with his younger brother’s electronic devices and papers and brought them to Sweden.

After returning to the U.S. in 2020 with his brother’s electronics, he was asked about his brother’s connection to the fires and if the family had a storage unit. Giannakakis allegedly informed investigators his parents had a nearby storage facility before he later admitted he maintained and controlled access to the storage unit, officials said.

Giannakakis had visited the storage unit and a second storage unit at the same facility, which contained t-shirts with the a swastika on the front, a black backpack containing a bottle of cyanide and a notebook with his brother’s name on it with a swastika drawn inside, the night before he spoke with investigators.

Following Giannakakis’ arrest in Sweden, officials learned he unlawfully possessed a firearm and other weapons in Sweden. He was ultimately convicted of those charges and served time in a Swedish prison, officials said. The Supreme Court of Sweden approved the United States’ request for extradition, which was granted by the Government of Sweden on Dec. 21.

Giannakakis arrived at Logan Airport on Friday and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston Monday afternoon, officials said.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/Uka2STb