News Releases
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY & SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CITIZENSHIP APPLICANT
March 04, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and Rosemary Langley Melville, Interim District Director, Citizenship & Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, announce that KELVIN RENARD OWENS, 34, of Jonesboro, Georgia, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by United States Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman, on a charge of sexual assault. According to Nahmias, and the documents and information presented in court:
OWENS was sentenced to incarceration in a federal facility for every weekend for the next 6 months, and 5 years probation. OWENS was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,500. According to the evidence, on June 1, 2004, OWENS, a District Adjudications Officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the Martin Luther King Federal Building in Atlanta, was conducting a citizenship interview with a 45-year-old female applicant. During OWENS’ interview of the victim, OWENS grabbed and sexually assaulted the woman, and attempted to force her to make contact with him. The victim immediately reported the incident to federal authorities. OWENS was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case.
United States Attorney David Nahmias said of the case, “This case represents reprehensible conduct by a federal employee, and it will not be tolerated. The victim in this case not only was making every effort to legally seek her citizenship in this country, but was brave enough to fend off an attack from one of the people she needed to help her gain her rightful citizenship. She showed further resolve in coming forward immediately to other federal officials to report the incident.”
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert McBurney prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney or F. Gentry Shelnutt, Chief, Criminal Division, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.