California judge sentences former Syrian prison boss to 60 years for torturing inmates

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Set us as preferred A federal judge in California has sentenced a former Syrian prison warden to 60 years for torturing inmates and lying to immigration officials to get into the United States.A jury convicted Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 74, in March of conspiracy to commit torture, three counts of torture, one count of visa fraud and one count of attempted naturalization fraud, according to the U.S.attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

Alsheikh was involved in torturing political dissidents to deter opposition to the regime of then-Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to the Justice Department.Government officials say Alsheikh is the highest-ranking former member of the Assad regime to be tried and convicted in person outside Syria.The Justice Department had sought no fewer than 80 years in prison, while Alsheikh requested five years, citing his age and his chronic medical conditions.In handing down the sentence on Thursday, U.S.

District Judge Hernán Vera remarked on the “utter reprehensibility” of Alsheikh’s crime, Courthouse News Service reported.“The conduct was heinous, unimaginably cruel and unspeakably violent and brutal,” the judge reportedly said.Nina Marino, Alsheikh’s attorney, said her client plans to appeal the sentence.In a statement, First Assistant U.S.

Atty.Bill Essayli said he hoped the sentence “gives some semblance of healing and closure to this defendant’s victims.”“Criminals who inflict the type of savage brutality that this defendant did on his victims must never be granted refuge in our country,” Essayli said.

California Samir Ousman Sheikh allegedly ordered inmates to a wing of a Syrian prison where they were then tortured with a device known as the ‘flying carpet.’During Alsheikh’s trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Alsheikh ordered and participated in the torture...