A man wanted in connection with a deadly Cabarrus County crash who fled the country has been returned to face charges, the U.S. Department of Justice says.
Solomon Sincler Gheorghe, 20, was driving under the influence the morning of Sept. 20, 2023, when he swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with two other vehicles, the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office said in October 2023.
Gheorghe’s mother, father and brother were killed in the collision on Bethel School Road about 20 miles east of Charlotte. Gheorghe was airlifted to a hospital, but after his release, he fled to Mexico and then to Europe, the sheriff’s office said.
Gheorghe, an Irish national, has been returned from France, the Justice Department said in a news release. His extradition was among 14 this month that included suspects in murders, alien smuggling and cybercrime and an accused member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as MS-13.
“The Justice Department will aggressively pursue and bring to justice in the United States transnational criminals and hold them accountable for the death and violence they have committed here and abroad,” Matthew Galeotti, head of the department’s criminal division, said in the statement.
Gheorghe faces three counts of felony death by vehicle and one count of felony serious injury by vehicle. His next court date was set for April 3, according to the sheriff’s website.
