Fugitive extradited from Singapore to Oakland after 20 years

A woman who had been on the run from federal authorities for 20 years made her first appearance in an Oakland court after being extradited from Singapore, US prosecutors said.

Voni Chen, now 57, from Taiwan, and her father, Richard Chen, 87, were originally charged in 2000 with mail fraud relating to their manufacturing business.

The couple submitted fake invoices to a credit company in order to receive more than $5 million in loan funds, federal prosecutors said.

Both Voni and Richard Chen pleaded guilty to the charges in 2001, but did not appear for sentencing hearings in 2002.

Warrants were issued for their arrests, and the two men were on the run for more than 20 years until Singaporean officials alerted US authorities that they were in Singapore and arrested them.

“After the Chens consented to their extradition to the United States, the Minister of Justice of Singapore ordered their extradition,” prosecutors said.

Voni Chen was flown to the United States last week and made her first court appearance on Friday. Richard Chen is still waiting for his transport.