A United States federal grand jury has now charged the former governor of Deir ez-Zor, Samir Ousman AlSheikh, with Immigration Fraud. Charges include fraud and misuse of visas, in addition to attempted unlawful procurement of naturalization. Each of these charges are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The charges state that Sheikh made false statements to conceal his role in the physical abuse of prisoners, persecution of dissidents, and his connection to the Ba’ath Party when he applied for a U.S. visa in 2020 and for citizenship in 2023.
US Prosecutors claim that AlSheikh, who held the rank of brigadier general in Assad’s forces, oversaw executions and the brutal beating of prisoners while managing Adra Prison.
AlSheikh managed to obtain a green card, making him a legal permanent resident in the United States in 2020. However, prosecutors accused him of attempting to fraudulently obtain citizenship and the green card by providing false information.
AlSheikh has not yet entered any pleas and is scheduled to appear in court on August 16. According to Reuters, this case is part of a U.S. lead effort to hold accountable those who committed human rights violations in Syria.
The U.S. authorities announced the arrest of AlSheikh, in Los Angeles, California, after he purchased a one-way ticket on a flight to the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
