Ex-Syrian prison chief sentenced to 60 years in US for torture

September 18, 2026 at 05:08 PM2 min

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A federal court in Los Angeles sentenced Samir Ousman al-Sheikh, former director of Syria's Adra Central Prison, to 60 years in prison for torture and immigration fraud. The 74-year-old was convicted in March on conspiracy to commit torture and three counts of torture. Prosecutors had sought at least 80 years, while the defense argued for five years citing his age and health.

Key Facts

Samir Ousman al-Sheikh, 74, was sentenced to 60 years in prison by a federal court in Los Angeles on September 18, 2026.
Al-Sheikh directed Adra Central Prison from 2005 to 2008 under President Bashar al-Assad.
In March, a jury convicted him of conspiracy to commit torture and three counts of torture.
He was also convicted of immigration fraud for concealing his Syrian prison role when entering the U.S. in 2020.
The U.S. Justice Department called him the highest-ranking former Assad government official personally tried and convicted outside Syria.

The Sentence

A federal court in Los Angeles sentenced Samir Ousman al-Sheikh to 60 years in prison on September 18, 2026. The 74-year-old former director of Adra Central Prison was convicted in March on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and three counts of torture. Prosecutors had requested at least 80 years, while the defense argued for a five-year term citing his age and health. Al-Sheikh did not admit guilt.

Prison Torture

Al-Sheikh ran Adra Central Prison from 2005 to 2008 during Bashar al-Assad's presidency. Investigators said he ordered subordinates to subject detainees to physical and psychological violence to suppress opponents of Syrian authorities, and in some cases personally participated in torture. During the trial, three former prisoners testified about the abuse they and other inmates endured at the prison.

Immigration Fraud

Al-Sheikh arrived in the United States in 2020 and concealed his activities in Syria when applying for a visa and residency. He later provided false information when attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship. The U.S. Justice Department described him as the highest-ranking former Assad government official personally tried and convicted outside Syria.