A former employee of the United States embassy in Burkina Faso has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of raping two young girls while stationed in the west African country, the US Department of Justice has announced.
The defendant, identified in court documents as Mara, was sentenced in the US district court for the District of Maryland following a federal prosecution that underscored Washington’s pledge to hold American citizens accountable for crimes committed overseas.
Prosecutors said the man abused his position while representing the US government abroad to sexually assault two “acutely vulnerable” child victims. The offences were uncovered following an investigation involving American diplomatic security officials and domestic law enforcement agencies.
“The defendant, while representing the US government abroad, violently sexually abused two acutely vulnerable child victims,” Duva said in a statement released after the sentencing. “His crimes were reprehensible. While no sentence could undo the harm he caused, today’s outcome demonstrates that those who abuse children, domestically or abroad, will face significant consequences in the American justice system.”
Kelly O. Hayes, the US attorney for the District of Maryland, said the case sent a clear signal about the federal government’s determination to pursue those who target minors, regardless of where the offences occur.
“Our message is clear: those who prey on our children will pay a hefty price,” Hayes said. “Mara targeted and abused two innocent young girls, and now he’ll be behind bars for a long time where he belongs.
“We’re committed to partnering with our community and law-enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served by relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting predators who commit these deplorable acts.”
The investigation was supported by the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the law enforcement arm of the US Department of State responsible for protecting American diplomatic personnel and facilities worldwide.
George Semertsidis, deputy assistant director of the DSS Office of Special Investigations, said the agency remained committed to accountability within US diplomatic missions.
“We will thoroughly investigate any allegations of criminal conduct by those associated with US diplomatic facilities and work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring offenders to justice,” he said. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to accountability and the protection of the most vulnerable.”
The justice department noted that the prosecution reflected the United States’ capacity to assert jurisdiction over its citizens for certain crimes committed abroad, particularly those involving the sexual exploitation of children.
Under US federal law, American citizens can be prosecuted in domestic courts for engaging in illicit sexual conduct overseas, a legal framework designed in part to combat so-called child sex tourism and protect minors in vulnerable communities.
The life sentence brings to a close a case that officials said highlighted both the gravity of the offences and the reach of US law enforcement beyond its borders.
