SCRANTON, PA – Patrick Owusu, a 42-year-old citizen of Ghana, will be sent home after serving a 40-month sentence for a brazen act of defiance: refusing to leave the United States. U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley handed down the time-served sentence on June 5, 2019, bringing an end to a years-long legal battle over Owusu’s deportation.
The fight wasn’t about if Owusu would be deported, but how. According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, an Immigration Judge had already ordered Owusu’s return to Ghana back in 2012, following convictions for multiple serious criminal offenses committed while residing in the U.S. Details of those prior crimes were not immediately released.
Immigration officials first attempted to remove Owusu on March 31, 2014, and again on May 28, 2014. Both times, Owusu actively resisted, refusing to board the aircraft designated to take him back to his home country. It was a calculated gamble – a desperate attempt to prolong his stay in the U.S., and it ultimately failed, landing him in deeper legal trouble.
Owusu remained in custody since being formally charged in December 2015. The four-year wait for sentencing reflects the complexities of navigating immigration law and ensuring due process, even for individuals actively fighting their deportation. The case underscores the significant resources dedicated to enforcing immigration orders, even when met with resistance.
The investigation was spearheaded by officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and removing individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and ultimately, Owusu’s deportation order.
Now, with his 40-month sentence complete, Owusu will finally be deported back to Ghana. The case serves as a stark reminder that resisting lawful deportation carries serious consequences, and that federal authorities will pursue those who attempt to obstruct the immigration process. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story as it develops.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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