Indian citizen extradited to the US for involvement in a fatal Long Island crash that occurred 20 years ago.

An Indian citizen has been extradited to Nassau County to stand trial for manslaughter charges stemming from a fatal car crash that occurred in 2005. This extradition marks the first successful transfer from India to the United States in nearly a decade, as announced by prosecutors on Monday.

Ganesh Shenoy, age 54, is alleged to have run a red light in Hicksville on April 11, 2005, driving at more than twice the speed limit when he collided with a Cadillac driven by 44-year-old Philip Mastropolo, a husband and father of two. According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the force of the impact was so severe that it demolished the Cadillac, propelling the vehicle approximately 65 feet forward into a stopped box truck at the traffic signal.

Mastropolo was declared dead at the scene of the crash. Following the incident, Shenoy was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital but declined further care and fled the scene. Just two weeks later, he departed for India from John F. Kennedy International Airport, effectively evading justice for nearly two decades.

In August 2005, a grand jury indicted Shenoy on charges of second-degree manslaughter, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest and an Interpol “red notice.” After living abroad as a fugitive for 20 years, U.S. Marshals, with support from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and the U.S. Department of Justice, apprehended Shenoy last week. His extradition on September 25 signifies a milestone, being the first successful extradition from India to the United States since 2017.

District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly emphasized the prolonged anguish faced by Mastropolo’s family, saying that they had endured years of grief knowing the individual responsible for their loved one’s death was unreachable. With Shenoy now in custody, prosecutors are committed to seeking justice for Mastropolo and his family.

Following his return to the United States, Shenoy was arraigned on September 26 and entered a not guilty plea. He has been ordered to remain in custody without bail. He is set to reappear in court on October 14, facing a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in international law enforcement and the enduring pursuit of justice for victims and their families.

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