Associate of arms dealer Viktor Bout extradited to New York

By Chris Francescani
NEW YORK | Fri May 24, 2013 8:05pm EDT

(Reuters) - A U.S-Syrian citizen accused of conspiring with jailed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has been extradited to New York from Australia to face charges he conspired to buy aircraft in violation of economic sanctions, federal prosecutors said on Friday.

Richard Ammar Chichakli is scheduled to be arraigned in federal magistrate court in Manhattan on Saturday, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, said in a statement.

Chichakli is charged with one count each of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economics Powers Act, money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy, as well as six counts of wire fraud. He faces up to 180 years in prison if convicted on all charges, officials said.

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Chichakli also had close ties to former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, officials said.

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