A man who had been sought by the FBI for over two decades and was recently located in Wales may face coercion to join a criminal organization if extradited to the United States, a British court has been informed.
Daniel Andreas San Diego, a suspected terrorist and one of the FBI’s long-standing fugitives, was linked to bombings in San Francisco in 2003, reportedly associated with an animal rights extremist group. The 47-year-old individual was discovered in November at a residence in a rural area near woodland in Conwy, North Wales, where he had been residing under an assumed identity.
An extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court will determine whether San Diego will be repatriated to the United States. In a written submission, Mark Summers KC, the defense counsel, argued that if San Diego were to receive a lengthy prison sentence, he would be exposed to severe violence within US correctional facilities without adequate protection.
Summers stated that in reality, only affiliating with criminal gangs could provide security from violence within American Penitentiaries. Particularly for a Caucasian inmate like Daniel Andreas San Diego, white supremacist groups such as the Aryan Brotherhood would be the sole means of protection.
Nicole English, a former employee of the US Bureau of Prisons, testified on Tuesday, indicating that San Diego, lacking experience in integrating with other inmates, would be at risk in a penitentiary setting.
Mr. Summers contended that the only alternative would be extended protective custody in a specialized housing unit, which, although marginally less oppressive, could lead to prolonged isolation. He emphasized that subjecting an individual to such conditions for an extended period as a strategy to evade another violation of Article 3 was unacceptable.
Joel Smith KC, representing the US government, inquired whether a person fearing for their safety could seek protection from prison staff, to which Ms. English affirmed. Mr. Smith informed the court of the US government’s recent increase in prison funding.
The FBI had previously reported that on August 28, 2003, two explosive devices detonated at the Chiron biotechnology corporation in Emeryville, California, followed by another bomb on September 26, 2003, at the Shaklee nutritional products corporation in Pleasanton, California.
San Diego was indicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, in 2004, on charges related to the bombings at Chiron and Shaklee, as well as possession of explosives during the incidents. Subsequent indictments included additional charges of using explosives to commit felonies, as disclosed during the extradition hearing.
Mr. Summers had previously informed the court that San Diego could face a potential 90-year prison term with a terrorism enhancement if convicted. The FBI had noted San Diego’s connections to an animal rights extremist group, offering a reward of $250,000 for information leading to his capture.
The extradition hearing has been adjourned until Monday, December 8.