American fugitive who faked his death can be extradited, court rules

Nicholas Rossi, a convicted sex offender who faked his own death and later surfaced in Glasgow, can be extradited to the United States from Scotland to face sexual assault charges in Utah, a court ruled on Wednesday.

Rossi, 36, traveled from the United States to Ireland or Britain in 2017, leaving behind allegations of rape and domestic violence, according to the decision by Sheriff Norman McFadyen in Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Rossi has used several aliases over the years, including Nicholas Alahverdian, the name he was using when he faked his death in Rhode Island in 2020. He identified himself as Arthur Knight, an Irishman who had never been to the United States, during court hearings in Scotland after his arrest there in December 2021.

McFadyen said in his 21-page decision that the evidence Rossi provided about himself in his defense could not be trusted unless it was independently supported.

“I conclude that he is as dishonest and deceitful as he is evasive and manipulative,” McFadyen said. “These unfortunate facets of his character have undoubtedly complicated and extended what is ultimately a straightforward case.”

Rossi can appeal the court's extradition decision. His lawyer, Mungo Bovey, did not respond to requests for comment.

The case will now be sent to Scottish government ministers, who will have two months to order the extradition.

Prosecutors in Salt Lake County and Utah County, Utah, have said that they were pursuing Rossi's extradition. He has been charged with rape in Salt Lake County and he is the suspect in a sexual assault case in Utah County.

During the rape investigation in Salt Lake County, investigators found that Rossi had been involved in criminal cases of sexual assault, harassment and possible kidnapping in Rhode Island, Ohio, Utah and Massachusetts, according to the charging document.