Mujeeb Rahman Saify, Human Smuggling, New Jersey 2017

New Jersey Man Charged with Human Smuggling

Mujeeb Rahman Saify, a 32-year-old Afghanistan national and US lawful permanent resident, has been indicted for his role in a scheme to smuggle undocumented aliens from Afghanistan to the United States.

According to the indictment, Saify conspired with members of an Afghanistan and Pakistan-based smuggling network to bring two Afghanistan nationals into the US between July 2016 and February 2017.

The indictment alleges that Saify made contact with the aliens, arranged meetings with co-conspirators, and received payment for his role in the smuggling venture. He also used email and phone communications to facilitate and coordinate the operation.

Saify, who resides in New York and Newark, was charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens, encouraging and inducing alien smuggling, and attempting to bring aliens to the US. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as forfeiture.

The case is being investigated by HSI Miami, with assistance from HSI Newark and HSI's Human Smuggling Unit. The investigation is part of the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, which focuses on human smuggling networks that present national security or public safety risks.

Saify received a Special Immigrant Visa and became a US Lawful Permanent Resident in 2009 after serving as an interpreter for the US military in Afghanistan.

An indictment is merely a formal accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Counsel Margaret Ann Mahoney of the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the DOJ Criminal Division.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/afghanistan-national-and-former-us-military-interpreter-charged-role-human-smuggling