A former Syrian government official who attempted to naturalize in the United States has been convicted of six felony charges, facing a maximum sentence of 100 years for his involvement in torturing political prisoners in his home country and lying to U.S. immigration officials. A law enforcement official stated, “Our country will never become a safe haven for human rights violators.”
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California on the 16th, 73-year-old Samir Ousman Alsheikh resided in Lexington, South Carolina, and has been detained at a federal facility in Los Angeles since July 2024. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit torture, three counts of torture, one count of possessing and using fraudulently obtained immigration documents, and one count of attempting to fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship.
Prosecutors revealed that before immigrating to the U.S., the defendant held a position at a major prison in Syria where he subjected dissidents to torture. Upon arriving in the U.S., he lied to immigration authorities to obtain a green card fraudulently in an attempt to become a U.S. citizen.
Bill Essayli, the Chief Federal Prosecutor for the Central District of California, emphasized, “Our nation will not shelter criminals, especially those like the defendant in this case who committed heinous acts of violence against victims. I commend the courage and perseverance of the victims, law enforcement, and prosecutors in bringing the defendant to justice.”
According to Assistant Director of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Tysen Duva, Alsheikh ordered, directed, and personally participated in horrific acts of torture to inflict extreme physical and mental suffering on political dissidents. Over the years, he evaded accountability by lying to immigration authorities, securing residency, and seeking citizenship. Duva stated, “Thanks to the courage and perseverance of the victims, as well as the efforts of Justice Department prosecutors and law enforcement partners, justice has prevailed, and Alsheikh can no longer escape his past.”
Eddy Wang, the head of the Los Angeles office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), affirmed the commitment of HSI and its partners to hold criminals like Alsheikh accountable for inflicting torture on detainees before resettling in the U.S. Wang reiterated, “Our homeland will never become a sanctuary for human rights abusers.”
Heith Janke, Assistant Director of the Criminal Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), stated, “Today’s conviction serves as a reminder that the FBI will not tolerate violence and torture, nor will it allow attempts to conceal such crimes. We will continue to collaborate with U.S. and global partners to protect victims and bring offenders to justice.”
During the nine-day trial, evidence presented showed that between 2005 and 2008, Alsheikh, under the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, served as the head of the infamous Adra prison in Damascus, where he and his subordinates inflicted severe physical and mental torment on detainees. He specifically established “Wing 13” for dissidents subjected to torture.
Testimonies from dissidents during the trial revealed that they faced various forms of torture when they refused to harm or kill other political prisoners or showed support for fellow dissidents. One victim recounted being suspended by handcuffs from a ceiling pipe for days, feeling as though his arms were being torn off.
Witnesses also described being secured to a torture device called the “magic carpet,” comprised of two boards hinged together. Guards would bind prisoners on it, forcing their bodies to fold in half, causing intense pain and severe injuries.
One victim recalled that the defendant himself stomped on the “magic carpet.” Another victim testified that for voicing support for a political prisoner, he was punished with the “magic carpet” torture, forced to wear a red jumpsuit meant for prisoners awaiting execution, believing he was to be put to death. Witnesses further stated they were forced into car tires, bound, and beaten.
Alsheikh personally ordered the implementation of the mentioned torture methods on three victims described in the indictment. After leaving Adra prison, he was appointed as a governor in Deir ez-Zor province in Syria in 2011.
In 2018, he applied for a visa and entered the U.S. in 2020, concealing and providing false statements about his actions in Syrian prisons when applying for entry visas and permanent residency. Subsequently, during his application for U.S. citizenship, he continued to deceive and make false statements.
Federal District Court Judge Hernán D. Vera will schedule a sentencing date later. The maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit torture is 20 years, and each count of torture carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, while each immigration fraud-related charge can result in up to 10 years of imprisonment.