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Press Release

Jury Convicts Lebanese-Born Man on Charges of Making False Statement to a Federal Agent and an Unlawful Attempt at Naturalization

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas
Jurors found that defendant lied about his previous association with the Amal militia

This afternoon in San Antonio, a federal jury convicted 45-year-old Lebanese-born Wissam "Sam" Allouche of knowingly lying to federal authorities, announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin, Acting United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr., and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

Following a two-week trial, jurors convicted Allouche of making a false statement to the Department of Defense and unlawfully attempt to procure and obtain naturalization and citizenship. Evidence presented during trial revealed that Allouche, who migrated to the United States after marrying a U.S. Army soldier, lied to U.S. immigration authorities about whether he was still living with his spouse during the naturalization process in order to obtain United States citizenship. In addition, while seeking a contract linguist position with the U.S. Department of Defense that required a security clearance, evidence revealed that Allouche failed to disclose that he was a member of the Amal militia. Allouche was acquitted of one count of unlawfully obtaining citizenship by lying about his association with Amal and Hezbollah, both terrorist organizations at the time. Former relatives testified Allouche made statements that he killed an Israeli pilot captured by Hezbollah in retaliation for his imprisonment.

Allouche remains in federal custody pending sentencing scheduled for April 27, 2015. He faces up to ten years in federal prison.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the San Antonio Joint Terrorism Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Jay Hulings for the Western District of Texas.

Updated February 4, 2016

Topic
National Security