Foreign Fighter Extradited for Deadly Double Homicide in Florida

Fort Myers, Florida – In a shocking turn of events, former soldier turned foreign fighter, Craig Austin Lang (34, Surprise, Arizona), has been extradited to the United States from Ukraine to face charges in a gruesome double homicide that shook the small town of Brooksville, Florida. Lang, along with his co-defendant Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer (27, Bloomer, Wisconsin), is accused of brutally murdering a couple, S.L., Jr. and D.L., on April 10, 2018, during an armed robbery.

According to court documents, the couple had traveled to Estero, Florida, from Brooksville to purchase several firearms from an individual listed on the online marketplace Armslist. However, their transaction turned deadly when Lang and Zwiefelhofer allegedly ambushed the couple, shooting them multiple times and stealing their $3,000.

The superseding indictment reveals that Lang and Zwiefelhofer had formed a plan to fight against the Venezuelan government and used the proceeds from the armed robbery to fund their travel to Venezuela. The pair had previously fought in Ukraine and Kenya, where they met before being deported back to the United States.

Lang’s extradition from Ukraine was made possible after the European Court of Human Rights rejected his claim challenging extradition under the European Convention on Human Rights. Lang was escorted by the FBI from Ukraine to the United States, with significant assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI Tampa Field Office Fort Myers Resident Agency.

Lang faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison if convicted on all six federal offenses, including conspiracy to commit robbery, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and violating the Neutrality Act. His co-defendant, Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer, was convicted as charged at trial on March 8, 2024, and is scheduled for sentencing on August 6, 2024.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Michael V. Leeman. The United States also extends its gratitude to Ukrainian authorities for their valuable assistance in securing Lang’s extradition.

The gruesome double homicide has left a lasting impact on the community, and justice is finally within reach. Lang’s extradition marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice and serves as a reminder that no one is above the law.

As the trial approaches, the family and loved ones of the victims can finally take comfort in knowing that Lang will face justice for his heinous crimes. The people of Florida can rest assured that the justice system will do everything in its power to ensure that those responsible for such atrocities are held accountable.