Arizona resident and former U.S. soldier Craig Austin Lang allegedly robbed and killed a Florida couple in 2018, among other crimes, federal prosecutors said
An ex-U.S. soldier went on an 'international crime spree' – including an alleged double murder in Florida – to stockpile weapons and wage wars as a mercenary in foreign countries, federal prosecutors allege. On Monday, Craig Austin Lang, 34, appeared in U.S. federal court in Florida after he was extradited from Ukraine, where he volunteered to fight against Russian separatists, to face federal indictments in Florida, North Carolina and his home state of Arizona.
warrant for his arrest was issued in August 2019 after the alleged double homicide of a married Florida couple, Serafin Lorenzo Jr. and Deana K. Lorenzo, the News-Press reported. He fought extradition for years, according to the Department of Justice. Lang traded guns, a grenade and cash for a bogus ID in other states to flee the country under an assumed name, Argentieri said in a DOJ press release.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges during Monday's court appearance. His court-appointed lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment. Lang could face life in prison for the alleged Florida murders, and up to 25 years in federal prison for the fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents charges. 'His wrongdoing, however, was no match for the efforts of dedicated law enforcement personnel and prosecutors in the United States and abroad to investigate, locate, arrest and extradite Lang so he would face justice before courts in the United States,' Argentieri said in a statement.
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