Australian authorities will not deport a Springville man wanted in Utah County on more than 30 fraud charges, and federal authorities are now seeking to have the man extradited back to Utah.
Jeffrey M. Roberts, 41, remains in jail in Sydney, Australia, where he was arrested in January on a theft of services charge. During a background check on Roberts, Australian police discovered he is wanted in Utah County on 33 felony counts of racketeering, communications fraud and theft by deception. He's also charged with eight counts of contracting and submitting bids without a license, a Class A misdemeanor.Roberts and partner Kent Peterson, 54, Orem, owned Log Homes and Cabins Inc. and are accused of bilking about 50 customers from several states and foreign countries out of more than $400,000. Investigators say the pair took down payments for homes and cabins that they never constructed. Police believe Roberts fled the country just before charges were filed about four months ago.
Peterson, 54, faces eight felony counts of racketeering, communications fraud, writing bad checks and theft by deception. He is free on $25,000 bail and his case is on hold until Roberts returns to Utah.
Australian authorities considered deporting Roberts, which would have allowed U.S. authorities to arrest him when his plane landed in either Guam or Hawaii. However, Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson said Australian officials now want the United States to go through the formal extradition process. Because the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warrant for Roberts' arrest for fleeing prosecution, federal agents are handling the lengthy and complicated extradition process. Bryson said Roberts could be back in Utah in a few weeks, or it could be several months.
"We're not worried about him," Bryson said. "We know where he is, the Australian authorities know we want him and we're confident we'll get him."
When Roberts does return to Utah, it is not likely he'll get out of jail soon. In January, 4th District Judge Guy R. Burningham set Roberts' bail at $1 million after learning that Roberts fled to Australia with the intent of remaining there until the statute of limitations on the charges against him expired.