Fugitive Taiwanese embezzling suspect captured in LA returned to Taiwan

LOS ANGELES - A Taiwanese national, who is wanted in her native country in connection with a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme, was turned over to representatives from the Taipei Ministry of Justice at the Taoyuan International Airport on Wednesday by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Mei-Rung Lin, 47, is the subject of a "red notice" issued by the International Crime Police Organization, better known as INTERPOL. The red notice indicates Lin is named in a warrant issued in August 2000 by Taiwanese authorities accusing her of stealing $2.15 million from a Taiwanese company. Lin's repatriation by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) follows her Dec. 16, 2010 arrest in Arcadia, Calif. Lin was taken into custody on administrative immigration violations by officers assigned to ERO's Fugitive Operations Teams.

The Fugitive Teams are responsible for identifying and arresting foreign nationals who have ignored final orders of deportation or have returned to the United States illegally after being removed. Lin, who arrived in the United States a decade ago, overstayed her temporary visa and was ordered deported by an immigration judge in 2008. Lin appealed the ruling, but in July 2010 the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld Lin's deportation order, leading to her removal this week.

"This repatriation should serve as a reminder to fugitives around the world that we won't allow our borders to be barriers to bringing serious criminals to justice," said Timothy S. Robbins, field office director for ICE ERO in Los Angeles. "Our goal in these cases is not only to see justice served, but to safeguard law-abiding citizens here and overseas."

Since April 2009, ICE ERO officers nationwide have coordinated the removal of more than 175 foreign nationals being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. The removals are due in large part to expanded cooperation with INTERPOL. Currently, INTERPOL has 188 member countries.

INTERPOL members work together to disseminate information about wanted fugitives.