Blackmailer can leave U.S.

Yoko Ono’s former driver, who pleaded guilty to trying to extort money from her, can leave the United States voluntarily rather than be deported, a federal immigration judge decided.

Koral Karsan can return to his native Turkey without further legal proceedings under an order signed by Judge Alan A. Vomacka. Karsan must leave the U.S. by April 13. He has a plane ticket to Turkey for March 23, lawyer Jonathan Avirom said.

The voluntary departure resulted from an agreement between Avirom and Department of Homeland Security attorney Victor Yee. It makes Karsan’s re-entry into the United States less difficult than if he were deported.

Karsan, 50, was arrested in New York last December and accused of trying to blackmail Ono, widow of Beatle John Lennon, for $2 million. Karsan pleaded guilty on Feb. 16 to attempted grand larceny.