Former Syrian officer, Lexington County resident sentenced to prison

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– A former Syrian government official and Midlands resident will spend 60 years in prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Central California, Samir Alsheik, formerly of Lexington County, was sentenced following his conviction of one count of conspiracy to commit torture, three counts of torture, one count of fraud in possession and use of an immigration document, and one count of attempted naturalization fraud.

Court officials say during his time in Syria, Alsheik was the head of one of the nation’s largest prisons.