US authorities yesterday extradited Bermudian Harrison Isaac, Jr. who is charged with stealing a record $1.9 million from the Bermuda Government.

Isaac, 34, of Crawl Point Lane, Hamilton Parish, was handed over to US marshals at Bermuda International Airport and flew to New York for a hearing this morning in a New York Federal Court.

He faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of access device fraud and could face a maximum 280 year sentence if convicted.

It is alleged Isaac, a management accountant in the Accountant General?s office, stole $1,904,988.56 between May, 2003 to April, 2004 from the Bermuda Government?s account in the Bank of New York.

Detective Sergeant Grant Tompkins of the Financial Investigation Unit said: ?It?s certainly the largest ever theft from Government.?

It?s thought Isaac, who is believed to be the first Bermudian ever to be extradited to the US on such charges, wired the money from New York to his account in Atlanta.

Det. Sgt. Tompkins said: ?Since 9/11 all US dollar cheques have to be cleared through US banks. The Bermuda Government was forced to pay its vendors and receive US cheques in this US account.

?Mr. Isaac was responsible for setting up that account.?

But only $300,000 of the missing money has been accounted for.

Department of Public Prosecutions consultant Kulandra Ratneser said it could be some time before Bermuda gets the money back.

He said: ?That matter is still being investigated.?

Asked if the Bermuda Government had requested compensation from the Bank of New York, Mr. Ratneser declined to comment.

The hunt for the missing money is the subject of a joint operation between Bermudian and American authorities, said Mr. Ratneser.

Isaac, who has not had to enter a plea in his appearances in Bermuda?s lower courts because it is an indictable matter, could face a six- to nine-month stint on remand in the US if he opts for a jury trial.

The 13 wire frauds carry a maximum sentence of 20 years each, the conspiracy to commit access device fraud carry a maximum of 15 years, while the conspiracy to commit wire fraud carried a maximum of five years.

Because the offences are alleged to have occurred in America, Isaac is being tried there but he could also face further charges in Bermuda said Mr. Ratneser depending on how things proceed in the US.

Defence lawyer Richard Hector, who represented Isaac during his appearances in Bermuda?s courts, said he was no longer on the case and that Isaac would have to seek new representation in the US.