Romanian Fugitive Extradited to NYC for Hit-and-Run Murder
A Romanian fugitive has returned to New York City to answer for the tragic hit-and-run death of a 74-year-old man from Queens that occurred over three years ago.
Florin Stoian, at 30 years old, was extradited to the U.S. after spending three years in Germany for pickpocketing, according to law enforcement officials. His actions have caught the attention of Interpol for various international crimes.
“The NYPD is relentless in its efforts, whether it means crossing the street or, in this case, crossing continents,” stated Lieutenant Jag Singh, who leads the NYPD’s Highway District Crash Investigation Unit, during a press conference.
Lt. Smith also emphasized, “If you commit a crime this terrible, we’re willing to go to great lengths to make sure you are caught.” He referred to Stoian as a very elusive individual, both in this case and historically.
Stoian is not only a human trafficker with over 30 aliases but has also evaded capture in various countries, including Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands, before ending up incarcerated in Germany.
Police believe he drove a black BMW that struck Bee Tran on Myrtle Street in Ridgewood, resulting in the elderly man’s death on August 14, 2022. It’s reported that after the accident, Stoian fled the scene, abandoned his vehicle, and then set it on fire, causing damage to nearby homes before escaping the country.
Authorities have been piecing together Stoian’s criminal history, describing his pattern as involving “many aliases.” They were able to trace him to Michigan via rental car records, but he managed to slip away to Canada and then to Europe, where he was eventually tracked to Germany.
Last year, U.S. law enforcement finally identified him as a prisoner of war in Germany.
“The detectives remained persistent, even when the investigation seemed to stall,” Lt. Smith noted. “We are committed to seeking justice for the victims.”
Stoian is set to be brought to the 104th Precinct, where he will be charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, arson, and several other offenses related to the fatal incident.
