Tucson man extradited from Ukraine to face justice 32 years after fleeing conviction | Crime

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – A convicted child sex predator who evaded justice for more than three decades has been extradited from Ukraine to Arizona to face sentencing, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Daniel George Brewster, 67, was returned to Arizona on April 2 following his arrest in Ukraine in June 2025. He had been on the run since November 1992, when he was convicted in absentia of 15 counts related to child molestation at the Pima County Superior Court and failed to appear for sentencing.

Brewster’s wife operated a day care facility in Tucson in the 1980s. He was convicted of seven counts of sex conduct with a minor under 15, one count of attempted sex conduct with a minor under 15 and seven counts of molestation.

“Daniel Brewster’s capture highlights the extraordinary efforts of determined law enforcement officers, and what can be accomplished when local, federal and international agencies work together for a common purpose,” U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona Van Bayless said. “We employed every available resource to hunt, locate, arrest, and return Brewster to Tucson so he can finally face justice.”

The case gained national attention when Brewster was featured on America’s Most Wanted in 1995 and on In Pursuit with John Walsh in March 2020. The U.S. Marshals Service adopted the case in November 2015, launching a global manhunt that spanned multiple continents.

Deputy U.S. Marshals pursued leads nationwide and determined that Brewster traveled to Mexico, possibly obtaining a passport under an alias, before continuing to an unknown location outside of the United States. The investigation led to follow-up efforts in Tanzania, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada before intelligence indicated Brewster established himself in Ukraine in March 2025.

The U.S. Marshals Service Office of International Operations worked with Ukrainian counterparts to locate Brewster and maintained direct communication throughout the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Ukraine to secure his extradition.

Deputy U.S. Marshals from the District of Arizona traveled to Poland to take custody of Brewster from Ukrainian National Police, who transported him from Kyiv to the border. Brewster now faces a sentencing range of 155 to 281 years in prison.

“After decades of waiting for justice, victims can now receive some degree of relief in knowing that he will never be able to walk the streets again and abuse another child,” Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said. “I am thankful to the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service for their hard work, dedication, and collaboration on this highly sensitive and complicated case.”

The investigation involved assistance from the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché Kyiv, the Government of Ukraine, and the Pima County Attorney’s Office. INTERPOL Washington, the U.S. National Central Bureau, integrated with the U.S. Marshals Service in October 2025 to strengthen the connection between federal fugitive operations and international law enforcement cooperation.