Olof K Gustafsson's Life in a U.S. Prison

Fraudster Olof K Gustafsson lives in fear in an American prison. – It's very dangerous here, people have been murdered in my cell block, he says. He dreams of being free soon after making a deal with the prosecutor – and longs to return home to his daughter Stefaniya, 5.

Businessman Olof K Gustafsson, 32, talks about life in the MDC prison in Los Angeles. He describes it as "very dangerous" and speaks of "torture-like conditions," without going into further detail.

This week, he pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering in a federal court in Los Angeles. This is according to an agreement with the U.S. prosecutor in which he pleads guilty to five of around 150 charges.

Charges Dropped

In return, the prosecutor drops the other charges and promises to seek a maximum of 33 months in prison instead of up to 2,050 years if Gustafsson had been convicted of all crimes.

– I am satisfied with the agreement. The best part is that I will hopefully come home soon to my family, my little daughter Stefaniya who is five years old, and my wife Svetlana who has eagerly waited for me for almost two years now. I miss my family every day, says Olof K Gustafsson.

He responds in writing from prison to Expressen's questions. He describes the reality behind bars as "stressful."

– There are a number of well-known fellow inmates on the same floor. So there is an incredible abundance of criminals in this place, making it very dangerous.

– We wake up at 07:00 for cell inspections and have constant lockdowns due to fights and so on. Previously, people have been murdered within cell block 6 South where I am, so it's not the nicest environment.

In 2020, Carlos Gonzalez and Valencia Gonzalez murdered another inmate in the prison.

Extradited to the USA

Gustafsson was extradited to the USA in March. Since then, he has negotiated his plea with the prosecutor.

– In the end, to mitigate my own circumstances and risks, I chose to take the deal that was presented to me just minutes before the court hearing began last week in the morning.

The deal is the result of give-and-take from all parties, according to him.

– I think it became a win-win for both me and them. For myself, I risked an incredibly long potential sentence, up to 2050 years. Additionally, I listened to my lawyer Meghan Blanco.

– As I tell people here: We are all idiots sitting here, and then you need to pay for good advice and then listen to it. Meghan Blanco, who was previously a prosecutor and is now my private defense attorney, recommended I take the deal, and so it was.

"Got Some Gray Hairs"

Olof K Gustafsson says it was difficult to take responsibility for his actions. And he hopes for mercy.

– It takes enormous courage to stand in front of a judge who says he can sentence me to 120 years if he wants, and say "I understand, your honor." So it's not easy to accept responsibility for your actions, but now it's done and settled, he says and continues:

– I hope for mercy and that it will be soon. I have already suffered significantly during these two years away from the world and my family.

He says that, despite everything, he feels good, both "mentally and physically."

– Even though I am in an incredibly stressful environment and have gotten quite a few gray hairs during this stay!

Olof K Gustafsson was arrested in Marbella, Spain, in December 2023. The USA requested his extradition because he was accused of over 100 different crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and organized crime. He fought against it but was eventually extradited in March this year.

Gustafsson ran the company Escobar Inc, a name referring to the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar from Colombia.

To Compensate His Victims

On July 11 this year, he signed the agreement with the prosecutor. He pleaded guilty to five charges, including online fraud and money laundering. Among other things, he charged for a range of products, mainly mobile phones, from American citizens – without delivering.

According to the agreement, he will compensate his victims with the equivalent of 13 million kronor. The American authorities will also seize the equivalent of four million kronor from his account.

You were in prison in Spain and are now in the USA. Any difference?

– In Spain, I had access to TV in the room, very good food, and several smuggled mobile phones. It was a huge difference! Here, there is hardly any good food to eat, most people here are very disappointed.

– It's torture-like and inhumane conditions, claims Olof K Gustafsson without elaborating further.

Are you hopeful for the future? When do you think you can be free?

– Very hopeful and have many good exciting business ideas that I will devote my time to when I get out. I am hopeful of being released as soon as possible.

According to the agreement with the prosecutor, Gustafsson promises not to oppose extradition to France, where he has been suspected of art smuggling. He also agrees to lose his permanent residency in the USA.

– No, I am not afraid of any extradition. I have not done anything illegal at all in France, so I risk no conviction, if it becomes a trip to a courtroom, I can easily prove it there.