In the Matter of the Extradition of Marie Louise Russell, Charged as Helen Millar. Marie Louise Russell, Charged as Helen Millar v. United States

At the conclusion of extradition proceedings before a United States Magistrate, Marie Louise Russell was found extraditable to Australia on fifty charges. Russell then sought relief by petition for habeas corpus in the district court. The petition was denied. Russell appeals, and we affirm.

BACKGROUND

Late in 1983, Australian officials charged Russell with various crimes arising out of fraudulent applications for credit cards, bank loans, passports, unemployment insurance, and social security benefits. These alleged criminal acts all occurred between 1980 and 1982. On January 2, 1985, a United States Magistrate for the Southern District of California issued a warrant for Russell’s arrest based upon a request for her provisional arrest by the Australian government under the Extradition Treaty between the United States and Australia (“Treaty”), 27 U.S.T. 957, T.I.A.S. No. 8324.

Russell was arrested in San Diego. On March 7,1985, the government of Australia filed a formal request for extradition. This request sought to extradite Russell on fifty-two charges; specifically, nine charges of conspiracy to defraud, fourteen charges of obtaining advances by false and misleading…