406:
forms. Jabbateh appealed to the US Court of
Appeals for the Third Circuit in January 2020 on the basis that his crimes in Liberia did not amount to genocide. Circuit Judge Thomas L. Ambro noted the unusual length of the sentence and that it could be viewed as being imposed for his war crimes rather than his immigration offences. Jabbateh lost his appeal in September 2020. Judges Ambro, Paul Matey, and Julio M. Fuentes noted that some of the charges he was convicted of should not have been applied, but allowed them to stand because his lawyer had not objected. The forms filed in 2002 were beyond the statute of limitations, but the charges related to lying in a 2011 immigration interview despite the law only applying to written documents. They ruled that Judge Diamond correctly used his discretion in imposing the long sentence.
336:. The government stated that as a ULIMO-K commander in the late 1990s, Jabbateh either committed himself or ordered his troops to "commit crimes such as the murder of civilians, sexual enslavement of women, public rapes, conscription of child soldiers and maiming and torture of noncombatants." Twenty witnesses and victims were flown from Liberia to Philadelphia to testify in court against Jabbateh.
31:
293:
nationality, ethnic origin or political opinion?" 2. "Are you under a final order of civil penalty for violating section 274C of the
Immigration and Nationality Act for use of fraudulent documents of have you, by fraud or willful misrepresentation of a material fact, ever sought to procure or procured a visa, other documentation, or entry into the US or any immigration benefit?".
265:
1994, ULIMO split into two warring factions, ULIMO-K and ULIMO-J. Jabbateh stuck with the former organization. Both groups continued to commit atrocities. According to witnesses, Jabbateh would cut out the hearts of some of his victims and force their widows to cook them. He would then feed the cooked heart to his men, believing it would give them strength.
425:
Jabbateh was granted US political asylum on
December 23, 1999. He settled in Lansdowne, where he remained until his conviction in October 2017. Jabbateh has a wife and five children who live in Philadelphia. Jabbateh also has an ex-wife and at least seven children who live in Liberia or elsewhere on
264:
Jabbateh joined ULIMO in 1992. He rose to the rank of a commander. Jabbateh was the leader of the Zebra
Battalion. The organization was responsible for countless atrocities, including the murders of hundreds of civilians, rape, sexual slavery, torture, ritual cannibalism, and human enslavement. In
348:
On
October 18, Jabbateh was convicted of two counts of fraud in immigration documents and two counts of perjury stemming from statements he made in connection with his applications for asylum and permanent residence. Jabbateh was sentenced to 30 years in prison on April 19, 2018. Although federal
288:
and later ULIMO-K (Mandingo ethnic faction), but he did not reveal his alleged capacity. In
January 1999, an immigration asylum officer interviewed Jabbateh to determine whether his asylum application should be granted. Jabbateh responded "no" to these two questions: 1. "Have you ever committed a
405:
Jabbateh's conviction and sentence were unprecedented, both as the first conviction connected to the First
Liberian Civil War and also for the length at 17 times the recommended sentence for such immigration offences, the longest ever sentence in the US for lying about war crimes on immigration
292:
Jabbateh also applied for permanent residency (also known as a green card) using Form I-485. He responded "No" to these two questions: 1. "Have you ever engaged in genocide, or otherwise ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in the killing of any person because of race, religion,
256:. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison the following April, the statutory maximum allowed. Jabbateh was the first person convicted of crimes stemming from war-related activities during the First Liberian Civil War. He lost his appeal in September 2020.
324:
in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jabbateh pleaded not guilty on all counts. The jury, composed of eight women and four men, was selected the same day and opening arguments began the following day. The trial lasted for three weeks until October 18, 2017.
357:"I want to be clear, I am departing not based on the horror of the atrocities the defendant committed abroad. Rather, I am departing based on the egregiousness of his lies…and their effect on our asylum laws and immigration system."
467:
426:
the
African continent, who he attempted to sponsor to immigrate to the US. Jabbateh started a shipping company in 2008, Jabateh Brothers Loading Services, which packages and ships containers to Liberia. It remains in operation.
1129:
1114:
339:
Gregory J. Pagano was the attorney for
Jabbateh. Pagano interrogated the credibility of the government's selection of the witnesses and their testimonies. The defense counsel presented their case on October 16, 2017.
302:
364:
Jabbateh was a commander or higher-ranking officer in ULIMO and ULIMO-K, and during that time he either personally committed, or ordered ULIMO troops under his command to commit the following list of acts:
1003:
758:
951:
329:
483:
635:
328:
Assistant United States Attorney Linwood C. Wright, Jr. and Assistant United States Attorney Nelson S.T. Thayer prosecuted Jabbateh. Thayer was previously a trial attorney at the
795:
684:
289:
crime?" and 2. Have you ever harmed anyone else?" In January 1999, Jabbateh received US asylum based on his answers to questions posed on his Form I-589 asylum application form.
1119:
1011:
285:
229:
1124:
414:
143:
1104:
1089:
429:
Friends and family in his community around Philadelphia regarded him favorably. He does not hold a US passport and had not left the country since his arrival in 1998.
860:
841:
926:
709:
820:
781:
546:
361:
He said Jabbateh had made a "mockery" of the U.S. asylum system that had been established to protect people fleeing from human rights abusers like himself.
1109:
659:
305:
with two counts of fraud in immigration documents in violation of the 18 U.S.C. § 1546 and two counts of perjury in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1621.
321:
1047:
842:"Seeking new trial, ex-warlord living in Delco questions whether murders, rapes, torture, and cannibalism make him a genocidal war criminal"
1099:
353:
instead sentenced him to the statutory maximum, saying it would be "not only unreasonable but outrageously offensive" in light of his past.
244:
in the late 1990s. He was arrested in April 2016. On October 18, 2017, Jabbateh was tried and convicted in Philadelphia of two counts of
278:
978:
1094:
1053:
617:
733:
274:
861:"Appeals court upholds 30-year prison stint for Delco warlord 'Jungle Jabbah' who lied about Liberian war atrocities"
349:
guidelines generally only call for 15 to 21 months in prison for the charges he was convicted, U.S. District Judge
1079:
410:
237:
206:
309:
236:
commander who was convicted in the United States of lying to immigration authorities about his role in the
1074:
308:
The indictment was unsealed on April 13, 2016, and Jabbateh was arrested in his Delaware County home in
1069:
1048:"Is ‘Jungle Jabbah’ a ruthless killer or vendetta victim? Two portraits emerge in Delco man’s trial"
333:
253:
685:"FPA - Alleged Liberian War Criminal "Jungle Jabbah" Trial Set to Begin in Philadelphia October 2"
447:"After Arrest Of Jungle Jabbah, U.S. Homeland Security Releases Hotline To Report War Criminals -"
1084:
1035:
521:
396:
The killing of persons because of race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin or political opinion
821:"Ex-Liberian warlord living in Pa. sentenced to 30 years for immigration fraud | Gephardt Daily"
550:
475:
76:
320:
On October 2, 2017, Jabbateh was arraigned before the Honorable Judge Paul S. Diamond at the
417:. He is scheduled for release on November 5, 2041. Jabbateh's inmate number is 75217-066.
350:
241:
507:
301:
On March 10, 2016, Jabbateh was indicted and charged by the US Attorney's Office for the
1063:
547:"A US Immigration Case Offers a Rare Day in Court for Victims of Liberian War Crimes"
222:
1041:
902:
58:
710:"FPA - Recalling Sinje Massacre: Survivor Welcomes Jungle Jabbah Trial in America"
1004:"Witnesses Tell Stories of Jabbateh Torture, Rape, Murder, Cannibalism in Bopolu"
599:
575:
30:
35:
Mohammed Jabbateh in a photo submitted with his U.S. asylum application in 1998
508:"IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA"
245:
70:
636:"In historic verdict, Delco man convicted in 'Jungle Jabbah' war crimes case"
554:
479:
927:"Feds: Liberian civil war commander 'Jungle Jabbah' found in Philly suburbs"
952:"Delco man to face alleged past as Liberian war criminal in federal trial"
446:
660:"Jury in Philly selected to weigh alleged Liberian war criminal's case"
249:
233:
179:
123:
81:
47:
903:"United States v. Jabateh, 974 F.3d 281 | Casetext Search + Citator"
796:"'Jungle Jabbah,' ex-warlord living in Delco, sentenced to 30 years"
576:"Liberia: Ex-Ulimo General Jungle Jabbah Arrested in United States"
252:
stemming from false statements he made when filing for asylum and
174:
878:
1130:
Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government
1115:
People convicted of immigration fraud for concealing war crimes
782:
Ex-Liberian warlord jailed in US for lying about asylum claim
734:"Jury deliberates in trial of Liberian accused of war crimes"
759:"Delco Businessman Guilty of Lying About African War Crimes"
221:(born September 1966, sometimes Jabateh), also known by his
618:"Feds: Liberian war criminal arrested in Delaware County"
330:
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
273:
In December 1998, Jabbateh submitted his application for
1054:"Jurors begin deliberations in alleged warlord's trial"
468:"Liberian rebel commander guilty of immigration fraud"
1042:
United States v. Jabateh, 974 F.3d 281 (3d Cir. 2020)
979:"Two views of Delco man: Businessman or war criminal"
230:
United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy
202:
194:
186:
170:
162:
139:
129:
119:
109:
101:
96:
88:
68:
54:
40:
21:
415:Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood Medium
413:website, Jabbateh is serving his sentence at
8:
1120:People convicted of making false statements
284:Jabbateh disclosed that he was a member of
1036:Legal Monitoring of the Jungle Jabbah Case
819:International, United Press (2018-04-23).
600:"Liberia: Ex-ULIMO Rebel Arrested in U.S."
384:The enslavement of civilian non-combatants
44:September 1966 (age 57–58)
29:
18:
1125:People from Delaware County, Pennsylvania
393:The desecration and mutilation of corpses
973:
971:
381:The torturing of civilian non-combatants
228:, is a Liberian war criminal and former
1105:Liberian people convicted of war crimes
1090:Liberian emigrants to the United States
438:
378:The maiming of civilian non-combatants
369:The murder of civilian non-combatants
7:
502:
500:
77:Immigration fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1546)
605:. 2016-04-14 – via AllAfrica.
603:The New Republic Liberia (Monrovia)
545:Corey-Boulet, Robbie (2017-11-28).
387:The conscription of child soldiers
14:
1110:Liberian people imprisoned abroad
794:Roebuck, Jeremy (19 April 2018).
522:"Trial Monitoring: Jungle Jabbah"
390:The execution of prisoners of war
322:James A. Byrne Federal Courthouse
474:. Associated Press. 2017-10-18.
303:Eastern District of Pennsylvania
269:Immigration to the United States
372:The sexual enslavement of women
1002:Kanneh, Jackson (2017-10-10).
859:Roebuck, Jeremy (2020-09-09).
840:Roebuck, Jeremy (2020-01-21).
574:Kanneh, Jackson (2016-04-14).
334:massacre in Srebrenica, Bosnia
246:fraud in immigration documents
1:
689:www.frontpageafricaonline.com
616:Pradelli, Chad (2016-04-14).
683:Maximas, Report by Civitas.
1100:Liberian military personnel
240:(1989-1997) when he sought
1146:
580:FrontPageAfrica (Monrovia)
375:The public raping of women
82:Perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621)
1008:frontpageafricaonline.com
800:The Philadelphia Inquirer
714:frontpageafricaonline.com
411:Federal Bureau of Prisons
212:
157:
153:
149:
64:
28:
708:Giahyue, James Harding.
238:First Liberian Civil War
207:First Liberian Civil War
1095:Liberian mass murderers
310:Lansdowne, Pennsylvania
1038:(Civitas Maxima, 2017)
359:
279:US permanent residency
355:
297:Indictment and arrest
187:Years of service
92:30 years imprisonment
144:FCI Allenwood Medium
763:NBC 10 Philadelphia
332:and prosecuted the
254:permanent residence
158:Paramilitary career
111:Span of crimes
784:The Guardian, 2018
248:and two counts of
140:Imprisoned at
738:6abc Philadelphia
409:According to the
219:Mohammed Jabbateh
216:
215:
23:Mohammed Jabbateh
1137:
1080:African warlords
1044:- appeal verdict
1023:
1022:
1020:
1019:
1010:. Archived from
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879:"Inmate Locator"
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482:. Archived from
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131:Date apprehended
89:Criminal penalty
73:
33:
19:
1145:
1144:
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472:Washington Post
466:
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423:
403:
351:Paul S. Diamond
346:
318:
299:
271:
262:
198:Zebra Battalion
178:
132:
112:
80:
69:
55:Criminal status
50:
45:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1030:External links
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832:
811:
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591:
566:
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526:Civitas Maxima
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277:and later for
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1075:Living people
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1014:on 2018-05-22
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497:
486:on 2017-10-18
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469:
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421:Personal life
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226:Jungle Jabbah
224:
223:nom de guerre
220:
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176:
173:
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166:Jungle Jabbah
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125:
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71:Conviction(s)
67:
63:
60:
57:
53:
49:
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
1056:(WHYY, 2017)
1050:(WHYY, 2017)
1016:. Retrieved
1012:the original
1007:
997:
986:. Retrieved
982:
959:. Retrieved
955:
946:
935:. Retrieved
933:. 2016-04-13
930:
921:
910:. Retrieved
907:casetext.com
906:
897:
886:. Retrieved
882:
873:
865:The Inquirer
864:
854:
846:The Inquirer
845:
835:
824:. Retrieved
814:
803:. Retrieved
799:
789:
777:
766:. Retrieved
762:
753:
742:. Retrieved
740:. 2017-10-18
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728:
717:. Retrieved
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692:. Retrieved
688:
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643:. Retrieved
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611:
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583:. Retrieved
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569:
558:. Retrieved
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529:. Retrieved
525:
516:
488:. Retrieved
484:the original
471:
462:
451:. Retrieved
449:. 2016-05-03
441:
428:
424:
408:
404:
363:
360:
356:
347:
338:
327:
319:
307:
300:
291:
283:
272:
263:
232:(ULIMO) and
225:
218:
217:
203:Battles/wars
59:Incarcerated
16:War criminal
1070:1966 births
883:www.bop.gov
182:(1994–1995)
177:(1992–1994)
163:Nickname(s)
1064:Categories
1018:2017-10-20
988:2017-10-20
983:Philly.com
961:2017-10-20
956:Philly.com
937:2017-10-20
912:2022-01-29
888:2022-01-19
826:2022-02-27
805:2022-02-27
768:2017-10-20
744:2017-10-20
719:2017-10-20
694:2017-10-20
669:2017-10-20
664:Philly.com
645:2017-10-20
640:Philly.com
585:2017-10-20
560:2023-02-02
531:2022-08-28
490:2017-10-20
453:2017-10-20
433:References
260:Atrocities
171:Allegiance
135:April 2016
84:(2 counts)
79:(2 counts)
1085:Cannibals
555:0027-8378
480:0190-8286
275:US asylum
190:1992–1995
115:1992–1995
931:Metro US
105:Hundreds
344:Verdict
250:perjury
234:ULIMO-K
180:ULIMO-K
124:Liberia
120:Country
102:Victims
97:Details
48:Liberia
553:
478:
401:Appeal
242:asylum
316:Trial
286:ULIMO
175:ULIMO
622:6abc
551:ISSN
476:ISSN
195:Unit
41:Born
1066::
1006:.
981:.
970:^
954:.
929:.
905:.
881:.
863:.
844:.
798:.
761:.
736:.
712:.
687:.
662:.
638:.
620:.
578:.
549:.
524:.
499:^
470:.
312:.
281:.
1021:.
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964:.
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891:.
867:.
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829:.
808:.
771:.
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510:.
493:.
456:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
