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Alleged Human Smuggler Extradited to Face Charges in Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE US Department of Justice Monday, April 28, 2014 Alleged Human Smuggler Extradited to Face Charges in Washington, D.C. Habtom Merhay, a national of Eritrea and a citizen of the United Kingdom, made his initial appearance today in Washington,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

US Department of Justice

Monday, April 28, 2014

Alleged Human Smuggler Extradited to Face Charges in Washington, D.C.
Habtom Merhay, a national of Eritrea and a citizen of the United Kingdom, made his initial appearance today in Washington, D.C., federal court to face human smuggling charges for his role in smuggling primarily Eritrean and Ethiopian undocumented migrants from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, through South and Central America and Mexico into the United States.

Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. of the District of Columbia and Acting Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.

Merhay, 47, arrived in the United States on April 25, 2014, and made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson in the District of Columbia.   He was indicted under seal in the District of Columbia in 2012, and the charges were unsealed today.  Merhay has been in the custody of Moroccan authorities pending extradition since his arrest in Marrakech, Morocco, in August 2013.

The indictment charges Merhay with one count of conspiracy to bring undocumented migrants to the United States for profit and 15 counts of unlawfully bringing an undocumented migrant to the United States for profit.   Court documents allege that Merhay operated with a network of smugglers in Africa, the United Arab Emirates, South and Central America, Mexico and elsewhere to coordinate and implement arrangements, including providing fraudulent identity and travel documents, for undocumented migrants to travel through Latin America and ultimately into the United States without authorization.   For up to $15,000, Merhay arranged for individual undocumented migrants to travel from points in Africa to a house or apartment in Dubai, where he provided travel documents, tickets and instructions for meeting other smugglers while on the way to the United States.   Merhay coordinated the migrants’ air travelto South America, where they would meet with Merhay’s associates, who would direct or guide them across the various country borders.   The undocumented migrants then met with other smugglers associated with Merhay and were further guided north to Mexico and then into the United States, sometimes by crossing the Rio Grande River by raft.

The investigation was conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and ICE-HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or present grave humanitarian concerns.  ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources.  ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

The investigation was conducted by HSI Washington.  This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick Yette of the District of Columbia.  The extradition was handled by Dan E. Stigall of the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs.

The Department of Justice and HSI expressed their appreciation for the significant assistance provided by the Moroccan Ministry of Justice.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: US, Department of Justice

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21 COMMENTS
  • Mike April 29, 2014

    Thank God he is now in the USA! I hope they throw him in the worst jail house. I hope he gets the max. sentence for his wicked work.

  • GOJAM April 29, 2014

    GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA. YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU NEVER SCAPE JUSTICE SOON ( WE DI BERAD WILL ENJIOY YOU BASTARD SUB HUMAN ).

  • gebre1 April 29, 2014

    thanks for the Americans, I hope this will be a good example to issais and might catch issais too, there will be a time we celebrate.

  • senai April 29, 2014

    I am very excited to hear this news, he made a lot of money and played with a lot of innocent Eritreans.God bless this great nation.
    Let me tell u something fellow Eritreans
    Another smuggler his name is yonas, now living some where in zambia or tanzania.
    Any one who knows about this guy, let inform to FBI.

  • Natu April 29, 2014

    Is this criminal going to be sentenced to death or emprisoned for some years? This is because I (European) don’t know the US-law in question. Likewise the Interpol is searching for a native Eritrean crimal who name is John. Supposedly has this guy many passports. According to news agencies, this crimal is identified to be in an African country and ready to catch. First he will be transported to a European country and then we will see it soon. He has accumulated a very huge amount of money, really to throw on the streets os Asmara. His whole network is also thoroughly identied. Thanks to his friend who confessed all.

  • abrham April 29, 2014

    why we are all pointed out our fingers to smugglers.the main source of the problem is the government HGDEF:smugglers are helping pEOPLE scaping,some times they misused.but for them, it is also life or death stiuation waiting for them

  • haqiyesar April 29, 2014

    People from Dubai and Emirates they come to him and pay him to facilitate their journey to reach their destination.Don’t you think these migrants are part of the problem too.

  • Yerhiwo April 29, 2014

    Justice will prevail slowly! Next will follow Teklay Negis!

    ICC is also very close in indicating Dictator Isaias Afwerki and associates.

  • Zeray April 29, 2014

    In the eyes of the law the guy committed crime and he will pay for it. He took a risk for money.
    But folks, we have to differentiate between those who played with thousands of Eritreans like in Sinai desert and tortured them and even killed for money who deserve to burn in hell, and those who basically beat the system by forging travel documents and creating networks of other smugglers to bring victims of PFDJ to join their families in the U.S. I am sure there are many of us who were happy to see our loved ones join us and participate in the same opportunities we enjoy in the West. People like Habtom Merhay were probably the compass that guided many.
    All have committed crimes but we cannot judge them all as murders.

  • Tesfu Kidane April 29, 2014

    ተስፋ እገብር ንብዓል ተኽል ማንጁስ ከቃልዖም።

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