LOS ANGELES: An American who faked his own death and fled to Scotland to evade justice was sentenced Monday to five years to life in prison for raping his ex-girlfriend 17 years ago.

Nicholas Rossi, 38, who potentially could spend the rest of his days behind bars, went to great lengths to conceal his identity and flee after committing the rape in the western state of Utah in 2008, authorities said.

State Judge Barry Lawrence pointed to this as an “aggravating factor” as he handed down the sentence in a Salt Lake City court on Monday.

“He is the very definition of a flight risk,” Lawrence said of Rossi. “He fled the country to avoid investigation, he took on an alias, and even in response to this case, refused to admit who he was.” “I conclude that the only appropriate sentence in this case is to send you to prison,” the judge added.

According to state laws in Utah, where Rossi was convicted in August 2025 of raping his former girlfriend, a judicial commission will decide when he can be released. He was extradited back to the United States in January 2024.

Rossi faces a second sentencing under another rape conviction in November.

Rossi’s ruses included faking his death under his legal name, Nicholas Alahverdian, and publishing an obituary stating he had died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2025