A federal judge in California has sentenced Samir Ousman Alsheikh, a former Syrian prison warden, to 60 years in prison for his role in torturing inmates and deceiving U.S. immigration officials to enter and remain in the United States. Alsheikh, 74, was convicted in March of conspiracy to commit torture, three counts of torture, visa fraud, and attempted naturalization fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Alsheikh, who served as the head of Adra Prison (also known as Damascus Central Prison) from approximately 2005 to 2008, was responsible for the brutal treatment of political detainees. The Justice Department described these acts as part of a systematic effort to suppress opposition against the regime of then-Syrian President Bashar Assad. Alsheikh is considered the highest-ranking former member of the Assad government to be prosecuted and convicted outside Syria.

During the trial, three victims testified about the harsh conditions and treatment they endured under Alsheikh’s command. They described overcrowded, filthy cells infested with vermin, and torture methods including the use of a device called the “Flying Carpet,” which forced prisoners’ bodies to fold at the waist; suspension from the ceiling for extended periods; and being beaten while immobilized in tires. Witnesses also recounted how prisoners who refused to carry out orders to harm political detainees were sent to an underground section known as Wing 13, where they were subjected to further torture.

Alsheikh was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in July 2024 after entering the United States in 2020. Officials presented evidence that he had lied to immigration authorities about his identity and past in order to obtain a green card and to apply for naturalization.

U.S. District Judge Hernán Vera, in delivering the sentence on Thursday, condemned Alsheikh’s actions as “utterly reprehensible,” calling the conduct “heinous, unimaginably cruel and unspeakably violent and brutal.” The Justice Department had requested a sentence of up to 80 years, while Alsheikh’s defense sought a significantly reduced term, citing his age and chronic medical conditions. Alsheikh’s attorney, Nina Marino, indicated plans to appeal the sentence.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli commented that the outcome aimed to provide some measure of solace to the victims and underscored that individuals who commit such atrocities should not find sanctuary in the United States. One of the torture survivors, Khaled Abdul Malek, praised the verdict and viewed it as a step toward justice and accountability for crimes against humanity.

Alsheikh remains in custody as his appeals process unfolds.