Petitioner-Appellant Christina Manta appeals the dismissal of her petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Since 1999, Greece has sought the extradition of Crystalla Kyriakidou pursuant to the Treaty of Extradition Between the United States of America and the Hellenic Republic (the Treaty). The United States filed a Complaint for Extradition against Kyriakidou, whom the government believes is the same person as Christina Manta. After an extradition hearing, a magistrate judge granted the request for extradition based on two foreign charges of fraud. Seeking relief from the extradition order, Manta petitioned the district court for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In October 1999, Greece requested that the United States extradite Crystalla Kyr-iakidou. According to the extradition request, Kyriakidou had entered the United States using a false passport under the name of Christina Manta. Greece sought to extradite Kyriakidou on the following three charges:
(1) deceit of especially great damage, by profession and by habit;
(2) deceit from which it was provoked an especially important damage, in continuation and by habit; and
(3) deceit in continuation against a bank, with damage that exceeds the amount of 5,000,000 drachmas [approx. $18,000 USD] and committed by a person who acted by profession and by habit and especially dangerous.
The extradition request also listed thirty check-related convictions that were imposed on Kyriakidou in abstentia, though some of these convictions were declared invalid some time after Greece submitted the 1999 extradition request to the United States. In December 2002, Greece again requested Kyriakidou’s extradition. In this request, Greece added a fourth charge against Kyriakidou for “fraud by profession and out of habit of particularly great damage.”
Based on the three charges set forth in the 1999 extradition request, the United States filed a Complaint for Extradition against Kyriakidou under 18 U.S.C. § 3184 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. The court issued an arrest warrant and, on June 30, 2005, Manta was provisionally arrested on the belief that she was Kyriakidou. She was released on bond one week later. On the day of the extradition hearing, March 15, 2006, the United States filed an Amended Complaint for Extradition incorporating the fourth charge listed in Greece’s 2002 extradition request.
The magistrate judge granted in part and denied in part the government’s request for extradition. The magistrate judge concluded that the person before the court, Christina Manta, was Crystalla Kyr-iakidou, the person Greece sought for extradition. The magistrate judge granted Greece’s extradition request with respect to two charges — “deceit from which it was provoked an especially important damage, in continuation and by habit,” (charge two), and “fraud by profession and out of habit of particularly great damage,” (charge four) — based on her finding that there was probable cause to believe that Kyriakidou had committed those crimes. The magistrate judge concluded that probable cause did not exist to extradite Kyr-iakidou on charges one and three.
With respect to charge two, the Amended Complaint for Extradition alleged that Kyriakidou had “misrepresented herself as a real estate investor and convinced an investor [Théodoros Kiskiras] to give her [approximately $3,200,000] for future real estate enterprises,” and did not invest the money as promised. In her probable cause analysis, the magistrate judge relied on an investigation report written by a Greek Public Prosecutor, which stated that it was based on “testimonies” from Kiski-ras and three other witnesses and described Kyriakidou’s interactions with Kis-kiras. The Magistrates’ Council of Athens issued a writ of arrest for Kyriakidou based on this investigation report.
With respect to charge four, the Amended Complaint for Extradition alleged that Kyriakidou “falsely represented to an investor her identity, that she was an expert in international stock exchange trading, that she had her own investment company,
Manta challenged the order certifying her extradition by filing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district court. Manta now appeals the district court’s dismissal of her habeas petition. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253(a).
II. DISCUSSION
“Extradition from the United States is a diplomatic process” that is initiated when a foreign nation requests extradition of an individual from the State Department. Pras
oprat v. Benov,
“[A] habeas petition is the only available avenue to challenge an extradition order.”
Vo v. Benov,
(1) the extradition judge had jurisdiction to conduct proceedings;
(2) the extradition court had jurisdiction over the fugitive;
(3) the extradition treaty was in full force and effect;
(4) the crime fell within the terms of the treaty; and
(5) there was competent legal evidence to support a finding of extraditability.
Zanazanian v. United States,
On appeal, Manta raises arguments under the fourth and fifth factors: whether the crime fell within the terms of the treaty, and whether there was competent legal evidence to support a finding of ex-traditability. She claims: (1) that the district court erred in concluding that the Treaty’s requirement of “dual criminality” was satisfied; (2) that the district court erred in concluding that there was competent evidence to support the magistrate judge’s finding that Manta is Kyriakidou, the person Greece sought for extradition; and (3) that the district court erred in concluding that competent evidence supported the magistrate judge’s probable
A. Dual Criminality
Article I of the Treaty between the United States and Greece sets forth a “dual criminality” requirement. It provides that “surrender shall take place only upon such evidence of criminality, as
according to the laws of the place where the fugitive or person so charged shall be found, would justify his apprehension and commitment for trial if the crime or offense had been there
committed.” Treaty of Extradition Between the United States of America and the Hellenic Republic, U.S.-Greece, May 6, 1931, 47 Stat. 2185 (emphasis added). In other words, an offense is not extraditable under the Treaty unless it is considered criminal under the laws of both Greece and the United States.
See Caplan,
Dual criminality exists if the “essential character” of the acts criminalized by the laws of each country are the same and the laws are “substantially analogous.”
Oen Yin-Choy v. Robinson,
We review de novo a district court’s decision as to whether a crime falls within the terms of a treaty, including a treaty’s requirement of dual criminality.
Clarey,
We agree with the district court that the essential character of the two crimes on which the magistrate judge based the extradition order — “deceit from which it was provoked an especially important damage, in continuation and by habit,” and “fraud by profession and out of habit of particularly great damage” — target fraud by false pretenses or obtaining money by false pretenses,
1
which is criminal in the United States under laws punishing mail and wire fraud.
2
Manta
3
presents a
We agree with Manta that it is proper to consider her alleged intent as a part of our dual criminality analysis. Dual criminality requires that the “ ‘conduct involved is
criminal
in both countries.’ ”
Oen Yin-Choy,
An intent to defraud may be inferred from circumstantial evidence.
United States v. Milwitt,
As to charge two, the 1999 extradition request alleged that Manta “falsely presented” to Kiskiras that she was in the real estate business, that she bought estates at auctions and resold them for profit in cooperation with certain Belgian and Swiss companies, and that she was “of a great financial welfare”; as a result, Manta convinced Kiskiras to give her millions of dollars which she kept and never invested. Manta’s intent to defraud is supported by the Public Prosecutor’s investigation report, which documented that when Kis-kiras asked Manta to return some of his investment, she gave him checks that lacked sufficient funds. Kiskiras also learned that, contrary to Manta’s repre
We can also infer an intent to defraud from the conduct on which charge four is based. Manta is alleged to have presented to Dimitra Loui “knowingly of the truth-lessness” that she had an investment company named IMAR World Trading Ltd., which invested in secured bonds of developing countries with an annual return of 50-100 percent. Loui gave Manta approximately $32,000 to invest (as valued in the 2006 Amended Complaint for Extradition), and this money was never returned to Loui or invested.
B. Identity
At an extradition hearing, the court is required to determine whether the party before the court is the party named in the extradition complaint.
Hooker v. Klein,
We agree with the district court that there was ample competent evidence to support the magistrate judge’s conclusion that Crystalla Kyriakidou, the person Greece requested for extradition, is the same person as Christina Manta, the person before the magistrate judge. The magistrate judge relied on a complaint that Loui submitted to the Public Prosecutor of Athens Misdemeanor Court, in which Loui alleged that the person who committed fraud against her in Greece presented herself as Christina Manta using passport No. I. 837326 (issued in 1994), that Manta left Greece to live in San Diego, and that Loui later learned that Manta’s real name was “Cristallo Kiriakidou.” In Loui’s affidavit, she stated that she examined passport No. N464835, which was issued to “Christina Manta” in 1999, and testified that she recognized the person in the picture as the person who deceived her.
The magistrate judge observed that the person in court appeared to be the same person that Loui had identified in the passport photo. The magistrate judge also noted other evidence, though not conclusive by itself, supporting that the person before the court was Kyriakidou. She considered that the Public Prosecutor in Greece recognized the person in the passport photo as having a good likeness to the person Greece sought for extradition, that Manta had provided ’ different dates of birth for herself on three occasions suggesting that her true identity was not that of Christina Manta, and that Manta admitted that she was in Greece in 1997, when some of the alleged conduct took place.
Manta argues on appeal that there is no evidence that she is the person sought in connection with charge two, and that Loui’s identification is not competent to support that she is the person sought in connection with charge four. As a preliminary matter, Manta errs in suggesting that the government needed to provide specific evidence that she was the person sought as to each charge. Manta cites no case law to support such an approach and, by seeking extradition of one individual for multiple charges at once, it is implicit that Greece seeks to extradite the same person on all charges. Thus, our analysis of whether the magistrate judge had competent proof of identity is not charge-specific.
Plain error occurs only when there is an error, that is plain, and affects a defendant’s substantial rights; an appellate court may exercise its discretion to correct such an error only if it “ ‘seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.’ ”
United States v. Thornton,
We turn first to Manta’s argument that the government’s submission of Loui’s identification was untimely. Article XI of the Treaty provides, in relevant part, that if the fugitive is charged with a crime and provisionally arrested in the United States, she shall be released “unless within two months ... a duly authenticated copy of the warrant of arrest in the country where the crime was committed, and of the depositions upon which such warrant may have been issued, shall be produced, with such other evidence or proof as may be deemed competent....” 47 Stat. 2185. It is true that Loui’s complaint and her statement under oath were not submitted in authenticated form until after this two-month deadline. At the time the government submitted the initial Complaint for Extradition, however, the government attached authenticated documents including Greece’s request for extradition and a warrant in Greece for Kyr-iakidou; The plain language of the Treaty does not require that the government submit
all
of its evidence to support an extradition request within two months of the alleged fugitive’s provisional arrest. In effect, such a requirement would prevent the government from gathering evidence to support extradition any time after this two-month period, which could severely limit the government’s ability to extradite individuals under the Treaty. We decline to read such a requirement into the Treaty, particularly in light of the rule that we are to construe extradition treaties liberally.
United States ex rel. Sakaguchi v. Kaulukukui,
Second, the magistrate judge’s consideration of Loui’s photo identification also was not erroneous on the grounds that it was “impermissibly suggestive.” Manta argues that Loui’s identification is not reliable because it occurred eight years after Loui had allegedly seen Kyriakidou, Loui was shown only a single photograph, and the photograph was displayed as part of a passport with Manta’s name and other identifying information. Our case law re
“[T]he credibility of the reported identification is a matter committed to the magistrate and is not reviewable on habeas corpus.”
Escobedo v. United States,
Thus, we conclude that no plain error occurred with respect to the identification of Manta. We therefore decline to give further consideration to either of Manta’s newly raised arguments on the subject of her identification.
C. Probable Cause as to Charges Two and Four
We will uphold a magistrate judge’s determination that there is probable cause to believe the accused committed the crime charged if there is any competent evidence in the record to support it.
Then,
If [a] fugitive is merely charged with a crime, a duly authenticated copy of the warrant of arrest in the country where the crime was committed, and of the depositions upon which such warrant may have been issued, shall be produced, with such other evidence or proof as may be deemed competent in the case.
47 Stat. 2185. Manta argues that Article XI required the government to submit “depositions” supporting the Greek arrest warrant, and also contends that unsworn witness statements submitted by the government are not competent evidence under the Treaty because they are not under oath and, therefore, do not qualify as “depositions.”
The plain language of the Treaty defeats Manta’s latter argument, that witness statements are not competent because they are unsworn. Article XI is clear that depositions “shall be produced,
with such other evidence or proof as may be deemed competent in the case.”
47 Stat. 2185 (emphasis added). As stated above, the only requirement of evidence in extradition hearings is that it has been authenticated.
Oen Yin-Choy,
Manta’s other argument, that the magistrate judge’s probable cause determination was not supported by competent evidence because no depositions supporting the Greek arrest warrant were produced, also fails. In reaching this conclusion, our reasoning differs slightly from that of the district court.
See Papa v. United States,
The plain language of the Treaty is clear that depositions are not required in every case. The Treaty requires the submission of depositions only when a warrant “may have been issued” upon those depositions.
See
47 Stat. 2185. The rec
Manta’s final argument is that the use of unsworn testimony to support extradition violates the Fourth Amendment. Under 18 U.S.C. § 3184, a magistrate judge is authorized to issue both a provisional warrant, to bring the accused before the court to hear evidence against him, and a final warrant, to commit the accused to prison until the foreign government requests surrender of the accused. Manta is correct that the Fourth Amendment’s protections extend to those arrested pursuant to treaties.
See Reid v. Covert,
Manta cites no cases to support that the Fourth Amendment requires that every piece of evidence relied on in an extradition proceeding be sworn. Moreover, such a requirement would run contrary to our well-established case law that evidence offered for extradition purposes need not be made under oath.
Zanazanian,
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the district court’s dismissal of Manta’s habeas petition.
Notes
. Article 386 of the Greek Criminal Code, paragraphs 1 and 3, criminalizes the conduct with which Greece charged Kyriakidou in charges two and four. The Greek Criminal Code provides, in relevant part:
1. Anyone who, with the purpose to gain illegal profit for himself or another person, hurts another persons's property by convincing someone to act, omit or tolerate, by knowingly presenting false events as real or the unjust coverage or concealment of real facts, is punished by imprisonment of at least three months and if the damage caused is of [particularly] high value, by imprisonment of at least two years.
3. It is imposed imprisonment of up to ten years: a) if the offender commits frauds by profession or by habit.
. Federal law prohibiting mail and wire fraud permits the prosecution of anyone who “having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent
. We assume, for the purpose of this Section, that Manta and Kyriakidou are the same person. The merits of this assumption are discussed in Section II.B, infra.
. We need not address Manta’s only other argument related to dual criminality, that the district court erred as a matter of law by focusing on the
laws
of each jurisdiction, as our review of the district court's dual criminality analysis is de novo.
See Clarey,
. Manta cites to several district court cases to support her argument that Loui’s identification was unreliable because it was "impermis-sibly suggestive.” Although none of these cases bind this court, they are all distinguishable.
See In re Extradition of Chavez,
. Citing to
Zanazanian,
the district court concluded that the magistrate judge had relied on documents that could qualify as “depositions” within the meaning of the Treaty; in
Zanaza-nian,
the relevant treaty provision permitted a request for extradition to be supported by “the depositions, record of investigation,
or other evidence
upon which such warrant or order for arrest may have been issued and such other evidence or proof as may be deemed competent in the case.”
