US seeks extradition of Bosnian man for helping son of Russian governor close to Putin escape house arrest in Italy days before he was to be flown to the US for stealing military technology

The United States is demanding a man from Bosnia and Herzegovina be extradited on the basis he helped the indicted son of a Russian governor close to Vladimir Putin escape house arrest earlier this year.

The alleged prison-break happened in Italy in March, after an Italian judge ruled to extradite Artem Uss, 40, to the US to be prosecuted for allegedly shipping military technologies bought from US manufacturers to Russian buyers.

Uss, the son of recently resigned Krasnoyarsk Krai Gov. Aleksandr Uss was charged in 2022, and after being found guilty, was filmed fleeing his home detention in Milan on March 22, with the assistance of several individuals including Vladimir Jovancic, 51. 

Jovancic - one of six men allegedly affiliated with a Serbian organized crime group recruited by Uss - was taken into custody in Croatia Monday, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn just announced. 

He is now being held on charges of helping Artem Uss flee Italy to Russia - where fed say he posted to social media celebrating his safe return - ahead of his impending extradition to the States.

In a December 4 letter to the US District judge handling the case, prosecutors demanded Jovancic be detained once he arrives in the US to ensure he will be tried.

In the same correspondence, feds included a single surveillance still showing the pair strolling out of Artem Uss's home in Milan, before describing how they allegedly used bolt cutters, 50,000 euros and a cross-country car trip to evade extradition.

Addressed to United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner, the letter begins: 'The government writes regarding defendant Vladimir Jovancic, who has been charged in the above-referenced indictment.'

It goes on to add that the suspected mobster 'has been taken into custody in Croatia and will undergo extradition proceedings to the United States. 

'As described in the Indictment and herein, the defendant presents an irremediable flight risk and has significant ties to foreign jurisdictions, including non-extradition countries. 

'The government therefore moves for a permanent order of detention pending trial,' the note concludes.

It goes on to offer some background into Artem Uss and the underlying criminal indictment surrounding his case, which contends he knowingly tried to 'obstruct and impede an official court proceeding' through his hiring of Jovancic and five others.

One of the men, identified by prosecutors as the younger Uss's business partner Yury Orekhov, who allegedly orchestrated a transnational fraud, smuggling and money laundering operation along with the son of ex-governor.

Prosecutors said Artem Uss and his wife paid Jovancic 50,000 euros - or $54,110 - to transport Uss from Milan across the border to Slovenia and ultimately to Serbia in a car, where he boarded a plane to Moscow. 

They also described Jovancic role in Uss’ escape.

'The investigation into Uss’ escape has revealed that, in or about January 2023, Jovancic and other individuals affiliated with a Serbian organized crime group were recruited by Uss to help him flee to Russia in the event extradition was granted,' that portion reads.

The Bosnian national then met Uss’ wife at a hotel in Milan, Italy, prosecutors added, 'where they planned for Jovancic to deliver groceries to Uss’s residence in Milan as a pretext so that Jovancic's presence would not raise suspicion if an escape was necessary.'

'Uss’ wife also provided Jovancic with a cell phone and a 10,000 euro deposit for his services,' the letter continues, and Jovancic was later provided with a keycard to directly access Uss’ residence.'

The note then pivots to the day of Uss’ escape, following the Italian court’s decision to extradite Uss to the US, where Jovancic and several other coconspirators arrived at Uss’s residence.    

'Once there, Jovancic escorted Uss into a car and provided Uss with bolt cutters, which Uss used to remove his electronic ankle monitor and throw it out the window. Jovancic and his coconspirators then drove Uss across the border into Slovenia. 

'Over the next several days,' it continues, Jovancic and his coconspirators shuttled Uss through Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina before crossing into Serbia, where Uss paid Jovancic an additional 40,000 euro before boarding a plane to Russia. 

'Surveillance video captured Jovancic  arriving at Uss’ residence and leaving with Uss on the day of the escape. A still image of Jovancic and Uss leaving the premises is attached below.'

The Oct. 20, 2022 charges against Uss, which also accused him of shipping Venezuelan oil to Russian and Chinese buyers in breach of U.S. sanctions, came as the U.S. sought to crack down on violations of sanctions and export controls to pressure Putin to halt Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Separately on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said it was offering a $7 million reward for information leading to Uss' arrest in regard to the major sanctions evasion and smuggling case, months after his father resigned shortly after his son returned to Russia.

Jovancic, described by prosecutors as an affiliate of a Serbian organized crime group, faces two counts of obstruction of justice and instigating or assisting escape.

Uss, meanwhile, is wanted in the U.S. on charges of smuggling Western technologies in violation of Western sanctions and money laundering. He faces up to 30 years in prison, Milan prosecutors said.