Jury Convicts Sierra Leone Man of Repeatedly Resisting Deportation

ALEXANDRIA, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a federal jury found Osman Jalloh, 52, of Sierra Leone, guilty of two counts of preventing or hampering his deportation from the United States. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial.

Following the two-day trial, the jury found Osman guilty after deliberating for 35 minutes. Based on witness testimony and documents admitted into evidence, it was shown that Jalloh refused to leave the United States on March 16, 2012 and September 9, 2012. Both times Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents brought Jalloh to the Alexandria International Airport and attempted to put him on a commercial flight. He refused to comply with the agents and was returned to incarceration.

Osman faces four years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of preventing or hampering his deportation from the United States. Sentencing was set for July 11, 2014.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph G. Jarzabek and Brandon B. Brown are prosecuting the case.