DETROIT (AP) - A man convicted of luring European women to the U.S. to work as strippers has been turned down in his request to travel to Ukraine to help an ill daughter.
Detroit federal Judge Victoria Roberts agreed Friday with prosecutors, who believe there’s a risk that Veniamin Gonikman won’t return.
Gonikman is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ukraine. He’s served a three-year prison sentence, but his travel outside the U.S. is restricted until 2016. He’s now living in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., and still owes more than $300,000 in restitution.
The judge notes that Gonikman’s background includes carrying fake passports and attempting to bribe authorities.
Gonikman’s lawyer says the U.S. government won’t give a visa to his daughter to leave Ukraine.
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