Press Release
Central African Republic National Convicted for Resisting Deportation Orders
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Louisiana
ALEXANDRIA, La.: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Seyba Diallo, 46, of the Central African Republic, was found guilty on Tuesday afternoon by a federal jury on two counts of impeding or hampering his deportation from the United States. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial.
Diallo’s trial started Monday and ended Tuesday afternoon with the jury returning the guilty verdict after deliberating for 50 minutes. Based on witness testimony and documents admitted into evidence, it was established that on Nov. 11, 2011 and March 13, 2012, Diallo physically resisted U.S. Immigration Enforcement Agents (IEA) when they attempted to put him on a plane in Rapides Parish to return him to his country of origin. On both dates, IEAs brought him to the Alexandria International Airport and attempted to put him on a commercial flight where he began to yell and physically resist officers, which prevented him from being allowed on the flight due to airline and Transportation Security Administration policies. Diallo’s actions at the airport delayed his removal, but they also led to his deportation documents expiring, which further delayed his removal. Diallo has been in the United States for more than nine years.
“The defendant defied the law and placed additional burdens on our immigration system,” Finley stated. “I want to thank the prosecutor in the case and ICE officials who investigated this case.”
“ICE will continue to dedicate all its resources to prosecuting individuals who unlawfully hamper their removal,” said Scott L. Sutterfield, acting field office director for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement New Orleans Field Office. “This case illustrates our close cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the successful prosecution of egregious immigration law violators who pose a threat to public safety and border security.”
Diallo faces four years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release for each count. Sentencing has been set for June 10, 2013.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.
Updated May 17, 2017
Topic
Immigration
Component