Palm Beach man likely to face trial in Thailand
WEST PALM BEACH — A 43-year-old Palm Beach man is likely headed to Thailand to face charges that he kidnapped, robbed and tried to extort $3 million from a wealthy Las Vegas businessman.
In a 30-page decision released late Thursday, U.S. Magistrate William Matthewman found that evidence presented by Thai officials against Shawn Abraham Shaw is sufficient to order his extradition.
Jailed since his November arrest at his apartment on South Ocean Boulevard, Shaw has argued that the charges were trumped up by Antonio Accornero after Shaw discovered child pornography on his onetime friend’s computer while visiting him in Thailand to discuss a business deal.
Dismissing his attorney and representing himself, Shaw has also argued that he shouldn’t be extradited because he would face the death penalty in a nation that has been criticized by human rights groups since its democratic government was overthrown by a military junta.
In his ruling, Matthewman said his role is limited. The extradition process allows him to consider only whether there is probable cause that Shaw drugged Accornero, tied him up and tried to force him to pay $3 million for his release.
“Clearly, in the instant case, defendant Shaw has cast some doubt on the credibilit y of Mr. Accornero, but his efforts fall far short of negating or obliterating probable cause,” Matthewman wrote. “This is a very difficult standard to meet and defendant has not met it.”
It will be up to the U.S. State Department to determine if Shaw could receive a fair trial in Thailand. “Under the rule of non-inquiry, the United States judiciary does not have the authorit y to scrutinize the fairness of the requesting nation’s legal system or examine the conditions that await an extraditee upon return,” Matthewman wrote.
However, Matthewman urged State Department officials to carefully weigh the political situation in Thailand before sending Shaw there.
Attorney Jason Kreiss, who was fired by Shaw, said he expects his former client will appeal Matthewman’s decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“It’s a bizarre case,” Kreiss said. “It didn’t happen the way the victim said it did, everyone agrees on that. But the question is: What did happen? It’s a very triable case.”
The saga began in 2013 when Shaw claims he and his girlfriend went to Thailand to visit Accornero to sell him his idea to recover millions in uncashed gambling chips people take with them from Vegas. He said Accornero agreed to pay him $2 million for his idea and he and his girlfriend left the country without incident.
About a month later, Accornero, who made millions building a company that produced plastic cards for credit card companies, told Thai police that Shaw drugged him at a bar, tied him up and demanded $3 million. He said Shaw finally left after he agreed to pay him $2 million.