October 8, 2008
For more information contact:
Karen Rhew (850) 942-8430
ILLEGAL ALIEN FOUND GUILTY OF FAILING TO COMPLY WITH REMOVAL ORDER
Tallahassee - Thomas F. Kirwin, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today that SAHI SARWAR, 49, of Tallahassee, Florida was convicted by a jury of Failing to Comply with a Removal Order. Evidence introduced at trial established that Sarwar, an illegal alien, who had been ordered removed from the United States to Pakistan by the Immigration Court, willfully failed or refused to submit in good faith a timely, true, and complete application for a Pakistani passport and willfully acted to prevent or hamper his departure. Sarwar refused to provide his true name, aliases, and other information necessary for the issuance of a Pakistani passport. Sarwar also falsely claimed he did not know his place of birth or nationality, however he had previously stated in an immigration hearing that he was born in Pakistan. Immigration documents and a marriage certificate which were all completed and/or signed by Sarwar further indicated that he was born in Pakistan. Sarwar fraudulently married a United States citizen who filed a petition on his behalf to become a lawful permanent resident, however Sarwar did not complete this process.
Sarwar faces a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Detention and Removal Operations. The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney Winifred Acosta NeSmith.