Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret, was sentenced last July by the Tokyo District Court to two years in prison, while his son Peter Taylor was sentenced to one year and eight months. They were convicted of aiding a criminal for their involvement in the December 2019 escape of Ghosn, who was awaiting trial on several counts of financial misconduct, including underreporting his compensation. The Taylors were arrested in Massachusetts in May 2020 and extradited to Japan in March 2021, although they fought deportation to Japan. The US and Japan have an extradition treaty, while Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan. Ghosn is a French-Brazilian of Lebanese descent. The US Federal Bureau of Prisons website lists Michael Taylor as being held at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center and expected to be released on January 1, 2023. Paul V. Kelly, the Taylors’ attorney, said via email that he was in discussions with parole officials about an earlier release. Peter Taylor has already been released and is back with his family in Massachusetts, said Kelly, whose office is based in Boston. Japan’s Justice Ministry declined to comment. Nissan had no comment. During their trial in Tokyo, Michael and Peter Taylor apologized and admitted guilt, saying they had been misled by Ghosn. They denied that they had benefited monetarily because the payment merely covered expenses. Ghosn, who led Nissan Motor Co. for two decades, he says he is innocent. He says he fled because he did not expect a fair trial in Japan.
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter
