A New York woman has been sentenced to time served for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the US and for lying to federal authorities about her identity.
Israa Sultan, 44, of New York, was sentenced to approximately 141 days in jail, a $5,000 fine and 1 year of supervised release, and ordered to reimburse the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the cost of her defense.
According to the DOJ USAO, Sultan attempted to cross from New York into Canada using another woman’s United States passport. When Canadian authorities refused to grant her entry, they turned her over to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Sultan falsely told a CBP Officer that she was the person depicted in the passport. However, when CBP searched her, they recovered approximately 20 grams of cocaine hidden within her shoes.
Sultan’s scheme didn’t stop there. During a hearing in this case, she brought cocaine into a federal courthouse, further demonstrating her brazen disregard for the law.
The case was investigated by CBP and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Port Director Timothy Walker of the Alexandria Bay Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), made the announcement.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a stern warning on Sultan, stating that she must comply with the terms of her supervised release and pay back the cost of her defense.
Sultan is an Iraqi national who has been lawfully admitted into the United States since 2007. Her actions demonstrate a clear disregard for the laws she was sworn to uphold.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
