Fugitive Yuri Ermakov Returns to United States

Stu McArthur, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Springfield, stated, “Our special agents did an outstanding job over the past three years, aggressively pursuing Yuri Ermakov, who left the Champaign County Circuit courtroom while the jury was deliberating the verdict. The University of Illinois Police Department notified the FBI that Mr. Ermakov was believed to have left the country, and that is when the FBI obtained an arrest warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

"Because of the diligent work by the FBI and the University of Illinois Police Department, Mr. Ermakov was located, returned to Illinois, and placed into custody to face the Champaign County Court system on his July 2007 conviction of criminal sexual assault, for which he was sentenced to serve 12 years.

"I am proud of the men and women of the FBI and the University of Illinois Police Department, and this case is an excellent example of federal and local law enforcement partners working together to bring justice to our communities."