US Fugitive Suspected of Hacking Wall Street Ineligible for Asylum in Russia

The US national suspected of money laundering, computer hacking and fraud at several financial institutions, including the JPMorgan Chase Bank, is not eligible for asylum in Russia where he is expecting deportation, a law enforcement source said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Joshua Aaron, a US national suspected of the largest hacking of Wall Street and also accused of stealing data on over 100 million clients of the JPMorgan Chase Bank, who is expecting his deportation from Russia, is not entitled to seek asylum in the country, a source in the Russian law enforcement agencies told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

"According to the Russian law, a refugee is someone who is persecuted or oppressed on grounds of racial, religious, ethic hatred or a political motive. He [Aaron] does not qualify for any of these categories," the source said.

In May, the Moscow City Court found Aaron guilty of violating the conditions of his visa, fined him and ordered his deportation. Following the ruling, Aaron applied for asylum in Russia. His request was denied, but he appealed that decision which led to his deportation process temporarily put on hold.

According to the source, Aaron's request for political asylum in Russia is just an attempt to delay deportation from the country. The source also added, that Aaron was behaving in a manner that showed disrespect to the country's laws.

"A foreigner, who resides in the country illegally and holds an expired visa is to be deported. And those who fail to leave Russia before a fixed deadline voluntarily are to be deported forcefully. He requested an asylum not when he arrived, but after he was arrested and taken into custody," the source continued.

The United States are seeking extradition of Aaron, who is suspected of money laundering, computer hacking and fraud at several financial institutions, including the JPMorgan Chase Bank.