A former CIA operative has begged the Irish government to give him shelter — so he can avoid prosecution in America over an alleged multi-million dollar fraud.
Soldier turned business film mogul Don Victor Cisternino — who is locked up in Croatia pending his extradition to the United States for charges over an alleged €6.4 million loan scam — also has an Irish passport and has pleaded with authorities here to give him political asylum.
“If I am returned to the US, I will only be sentenced immediately (sic) for up to 35 years in prison, which is essentially the rest of my life for a crime I did not commit,” Mr Cisternino says in a document.
“This is a violation of my humanitarian rights as an Irish citizen and I know Ireland would not let that happen.”
Mr Cisternino has engaged a leading criminal defence lawyer in Ireland to help him in his fight to avoid being put on a plane to America — where he is facing decades behind bars if he is convicted.
Dundalk solicitor Ciarán Mulholland of Mulholland Law has now taken up Mr Cisternino’s case — and is lobbying the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on his behalf.
He said: "This is an incredibly peculiar case which required answers.
"Whilst I cannot comment on the US federal indictment, suffice to say our client disputes the allegations and questions the motives behind this prosecution.
"My sole focus here is the human rights of a dual US/Irish national who has been held in Croatian custody since April 11, 2021 on foot of an extradition request by the USA.
"I have made repeated representations to both Minister Coveney and Minister McEntee's departments since November raising concerns regarding the safety and well-being of Mr Cisternino in addition to requesting urgent consular assistance be afforded.
"Unfortunately my client is essentially held incommunicado and I have been unable to participate in any privileged consultation as all communications are subject to overt monitoring.
"This is highly unsatisfactory particularly from another EU member State...We have also been told the prison conditions are substandard and deteriorating.
"This is deeply concerning and I call on the DFA to take a more proactive approach given the apparent humanitarian issues.”
Authorities in Florida have charged Mr Cisternino, 46, with two counts of fraud — as well as three counts of aggravated identity theft, and three more of illegal monetary transactions.
He faces 35 years behind bars if he is convicted, but he insists he is innocent and is being framed.
Florida prosecutors allege he swindled $7.2m (€6.4m) in Covid loans by falsely claiming he employed more than 400 people when the pandemic broke out in 2020.
They claim he used the cash to buy a massive mansion worth $3.5m (€3m) — as well as several luxury cars, including a Maserati and Mercedes Benz.
They issued an international arrest warrant for him last year and he was arrested on Croatia’s border with Slovenia and promptly locked up ahead of a planned extradition to the United States for trial.
But he is now pleading with the Irish government to step in and offer him asylum — or even put him on trial here.
Mr Cisternino, who also served in the US Marines and worked as an intelligence officer in the Middle East, says he fears he will be murdered if he is sent back to America — a fate he claims also befell infamous paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York jail from apparent suicide in August 2019.
Mr Cisternino says: “The new Biden Administration has made me a target, that they want to stop and silence at any cost.”
And he also says he was framed by powerful interests who were determined to target him because he was developing powerful software that would revolutionise the entertainment and media industries in the US and around the world.
Mr Cisternino, who says he is a traditional Catholic, also claims he has been targeted because of his religious and political beliefs.
He says: “We are a traditional, conservative, Christian family, and we have often questioned and spoken out against the steady encroachment of extremism into our society.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it “is aware of this case and stands ready to provide consular assistance, where possible.”
For all the latest breaking news stories, sign up for our free newsletter.
