A former US Army Ranger and his two ex-soldier buddies accused of acting as a hitmen in the brutal slaying of a German businessman in the Netherlands will be extradited to face the charges against them.
The US District Court of Connecticut ordered that Jacob Mazeika, 38, be sent overseas to stand trial in the 2019 murder of Thomas Schwarz, according to court records dated September 20.
Mazeika, who served two tours in Afghanistan and a tour in Iraq, signed off on an affidavit consenting to the extradition the same day.
He faces 19 charges in the Netherlands including murder, aggravated manslaughter and extortion resulting in death.
Mazeika was arrested in Connecticut last April and has remained in custody ever since.
Justin Causey, of Colorado, and William Lyle Johnson, a former Mississippi sheriff's deputy, have also been approved for extradition in connection with the case.
Johnson was arrested in the US at the end of April and was held without bail. His extradition to the Netherlands was granted on September 15.
Causey's extradition was granted on September 7.
It remains unclear exactly when the extraditions will take place.
Former US Army Ranger Jacob Mazeika signed off on an affidavit on September 20, 2021 consenting to his extradition to the Netherlands
Mazeika, of Connecticut, and two other soldiers - - were reportedly hired by a Swiss businessman to kill Schwarz, a struggling farmer who allegedly owed money to Lukas Fecker.
Schwarz was found dead at his home in Bergen on November 26, 2019. His hands and feet had been tied with wire.
Dutch police were called to his residence after receiving reports that Schwarz's front door was open and the 'handle stained with blood'.
According to court documents, Schwarz had suffered several deep stab wounds, serious injuries to his back, broken ribs and his throat had
