Russian-US dual citizen extradited from Armenia to West Virginia on drug charges

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – A Russian man formerly of West Virginia has been arrested and brought back to the United States on controlled substance charges.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service for the Southern District of West Virginia, Dr. Alexander Vladimirovich Otellin, 57, was arrested by the Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force on a 10-count federal indictment, which accuses him of “unlawful distribution of controlled substances.”

Otellin has been living in Russia but is formerly of Charleston, West Virginia, and has dual citizenship in both countries. U.S. Marshals say they believe he fled the States to avoid prosecution, and that they and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of West Virginia worked with INTERPOL Washington to issue an Interpol Red Notice for Otellin.

According to U.S. Marshals, Otellin entered the country of Armenia in September 2023. U.S. Marshals say Armenian authorities discovered the Interpol Red Notice and active Warrant for Otellin’s arrest, and then arrested and detained him.

U.S. Marshals say they went to Armenia and took custody of Otellin. On April 20, 2024, they brought him back to West Virginia. He was taken to the South Central Regional Jail to await U.S. District Court proceedings.

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