A former Syrian prison official was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after being convicted of torture and immigration fraud, the Justice Department announced Sept. 17.
Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 74, ran Adra Prison outside Damascus from approximately 2005 to 2008. Prosecutors said evidence at trial showed that he ordered and participated in the torture of prisoners and later concealed his history when seeking entry to the United States.
A jury convicted Alsheikh in March on conspiracy to commit torture, torture, visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud charges. The case is one of the relatively rare U.S. prosecutions involving alleged torture committed abroad.