Roland Preston|Syrian official who oversaw prisons with widespread allegations of abuse arrested by US officials

2025-04-30 05:23:29source:Thomas Caldwellcategory:My

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Syrian military official who oversaw prisons with widespread allegations of abuse has been arrested in Los Angeles.

Samir Ousman al-Sheikh,Roland Preston 72, was arrested last week at Los Angeles International Airport on immigration fraud charges, specifically that he denied in his U.S. visa application that he had ever ordered any political killings or carried out abuse in Syria, according to court documents.

Al-Sheikh, a resident of Los Angeles since 2020, is suspected of naturalization fraud in his effort to seek U.S. citizenship, according to a criminal complaint filed July 9. Al-Sheikh, who was in charge of Syria’s infamous Adra prison, “provided materially false information on his visa application by falsely stating that he had not committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in extrajudicial killings, political killings, or other acts of violence,” the complaint states.

Investigators were considering additional charges, according to court papers.

More:My

Recommend

Stanley recalls 2.6 million mugs after dozens of customer complaints, including burn injuries

Stanley is recalling 2.6 million mugs sold in the U.S. after the company received dozens of consumer

Arizona man was trapped in his Tesla on a 100 degree day; here's how to get out

An Arizona man told a Phoenix TV station that he was trapped inside his Tesla Model Y during a 100-d

Calling all influencers! Get paid $100k to make content for pizza delivery app, Slice

Getting paid six figures to be a pizza influencer might sound like a prank, but this pizza delivery