A British businessman accused of defrauding investors out of $99 million using valuable wine collections as collateral has won the chance to challenge his extradition to the U.S.
Briton $99M Wine Fraud Bid: High Court Ruling
Judge Judith Farbey allowed Andrew Fuller, also known as James Wellesley, to challenge his extradition on two grounds. She expressed concerns at the High Court that the lower judge who approved his extradition may have misdirected himself regarding the risk of suicide for Fuller and his family.
“I have real concerns that the district judge asked and answered the wrong question,” Judge Farbey said. “It is arguable that he … misdirected himself.”
Alleged $99M Wine Fraud Scheme
The U.S. alleges that Fuller and his alleged co-conspirator, Stephen Burton, defrauded dozens of investors between June 2017 and February 2019 through their companies, Hong Kong-based Bordeaux Cellars Ltd. and Bordeaux Cellars London Ltd. These companies supposedly brokered loans using high-value wine collections as collateral, although they did not actually have custody of the collections. The U.S. asserts these companies were Ponzi schemes.
