A former Syrian government official, Samir Ousman Alsheikh, was found guilty by a jury on Mar. 16 of torturing inmates at Adra Prison in Damascus and later lying to United States immigration officials to obtain residency and attempt naturalization.
The case highlights the U.S. government’s efforts to hold human rights violators accountable, even years after their alleged crimes. The conviction also demonstrates the reach of American law enforcement in prosecuting international crimes that have domestic implications.
Alsheikh, 73, who previously lived in Lexington, South Carolina, has been in federal custody in Los Angeles since July 2024. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit torture, three counts of torture, fraud related to immigration documents, and attempted naturalization fraud. “Our country is not a refuge for criminals – especially criminals who engage in the brutality of the kind this defendant inflicted on his victims,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said: “Samir Ousman Alsheikh ordered, directed, and directly participated in heinous acts of torture designed to inflict excruciating mental and physical pain with the goal of punishing and silencing political dissent.” Duva added that Alsheikh evaded responsibility for years by lying to U.S. authorities but now faces justice due to victims’ courage and prosecutors’ dedication.
According to evidence presented during a nine-day trial, Alsheikh served as brigadier general overseeing Adra Prison from about 2005 through 2008 under then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Testimony described severe abuses including suspending prisoners by their wrists while beating them and using a device called the “Magic Carpet” that caused extreme pain. Witnesses recounted being folded into car tires or forced into red jumpsuits reserved for those marked for execution.
After leaving Syria where he later became governor of Deir Ez-Zour province in 2011, Alsheikh applied for a U.S. visa in 2018 and entered the country two years later by concealing his past actions on official forms. He continued these misrepresentations when applying for citizenship.
United States District Judge Hernán D. Vera will set sentencing at a future date; Alsheikh faces up to 20 years per count for conspiracy and torture charges and up to 10 years per count for immigration-related offenses.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles and FBI Chicago with support from HSI’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC), which helps identify human rights abusers residing in the United States since its establishment in 2009. The Federal Criminal Police Office in Germany also assisted.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California supports community outreach through programs focused on victim assistance and public education according to its official website. The office serves more than 19 million residents across seven counties according to its official website and focuses on prosecuting federal criminal cases as well as handling civil matters according to its official website. E. Martin Estrada has held the position of United States Attorney for this district according to its official website. The office works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners according to its official website.
Members of the public with information about former human rights violators residing in the United States are encouraged to contact law enforcement via HSI tip lines or online forms provided by authorities.
“Homeland Security Investigations and our partners are dedicated to bringing accountability to criminals like Samir Ousman Alsheikh,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “Our Homeland will never serve as a sanctuary for human rights abusers.”
