WASHINGTON - United States Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor and United States Secret Service Special Agent In-Charge Jeffrey Irvine announced today that Mohamed Tayssir Azouz, 22, of Tunisia, was sentenced on November 20, 2008, by United States District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to 24 months of incarceration. Execution of the sentence was suspended, and Azouz was placed on probation for one year, and ordered to self-deport to Tunisia within 14 days under escort by his probation officer. Azouz also paid full restitution in the amount of $10,587.73. On May 30, 2008, Azouz pled guilty to Theft in the First Degree, in violation of D.C. Code § 22-3211, 3212(a).

According to the government's evidence, World Service Authority (WSA) was a not-for-profit entity located at 1012 Fourteenth Street, N.W., Suite 205, Washington, DC. WSA was created to provide human rights documents. Specifically, WSA receives communications from individuals around the world who pay a fee to WSA in exchange for these documents. Once WSA receives payment it prepares the documents and mails the goods to the clients, generally through Federal Express.

From about January 2005, until January 25, 2008, Azouz held the title of "Information Department Assistant," and received phone calls from WSA clients requesting documents from WSA or requesting updates on their application status with WSA. Azouz worked approximately three days a week at a rate of approximately $13.00 an hour. He was responsible for collecting information and for disseminating the appropriate documentation to WSA clients. Each transaction completed on the WSA computer system by an employee is recorded using the employee's first initial of their first and last name. Any world passport that is issued by WSA must be done using the WSA computer system.

Beginning in or about January 2006, and continuing until January 2008, Azouz perpetrated a scheme to steal money belonging to WSA whereby he contacted WSA clients and gave them instructions to divert directly to him the money owed to WSA for services. Specifically, Azouz contacted clients who had made requests for documents to be created by WSA, and instead of instructing the clients to send the funds directly to WSA, he instructed the clients to have the funds sent directly to his attention at a non-WSA location through Western Union. Azouz then collected the money from the designated Western Union location and converted it to his personal use, without WSA authority.

For example, on one occasion in 2006, Mr. T.U. ordered documents from WSA. However, when it was time to pay for the documents, Azouz directed Mr. T.U. to forward his payment to his attention at a Western Union location in the District of Columbia. As directed, Mr. T.U. sent $306.00 to Azouz via Western Union from the Bronx, New York. The total loss attributed to this scheme was $10,587.73.

In announcing yesterday's sentencing, U.S. Attorney Taylor and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent In-Charge Irvine commended the investigative work of U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Brandee Gound. He also praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla-Dee Clark and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Alexis who prosecuted this case.