Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom is expected to be extradited from New Zealand to the United States to face criminal charges related to the offline file-sharing website Megaupload, according to Reuters.
The recent decision could mark the end of a legal battle that has dragged on for more than a decade with U.S. authorities. Shut down the Dotcom website And he and three others were charged with conspiracy, racketeering and money laundering. If convicted, Dotcom could face decades in prison.
New Zealand’s Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has signed an extradition order for the German-born internet giant, a spokesman said on Thursday, according to Reuters.
“I have carefully considered all the information and have decided that Mr. Dotcom should be extradited to the United States to stand trial,” Goldsmith said, according to the news agency. “In keeping with normal practice, I have given Mr. Dotcom a short period of time to consider and advise on my decision and will therefore not comment further at this stage.”
Dotcom responded to this decision by saying: tweeted On Thursday, “Oh, don’t worry. I have plans.” and “I love New Zealand. I’m not leaving.”
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Megaupload was once one of the most popular sites on the Internet. U.S. prosecutors say the site made at least $175 million from illegal downloads of music, TV shows, and movies.
Dotcom says he is not responsible for people using his site for illegal purposes and that he has never resided in or visited the United States.
His attorney did not immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment.
Real name Kim Schmitz, Dotcom founded Megaupload in 2005. He lived in a Hong Kong hotel until he was granted permanent residency in New Zealand in 2010. In 2012, he was arrested during a raid on his mansion before being released on bail.
Since then, he has founded a political party and another file-sharing company, MegaAnd she’s released music, including a song she sang for “60 Minutes” correspondent Bob Simon in 2014.
He took a surreal tour around his massive mansion on a Buggy, playing video games, and rapping to CBS News in his music studio, saying, “I’m unstoppable, I’m not going to be restrained, I don’t want to be judged, because my life is not allowed to be.”
