In a landmark case, Michael Sang Correa, a 46-year-old Gambian man, was sentenced to a term exceeding 67 years in a United States federal prison for multiple torture charges. Identified as the first non-U.S. citizen to be convicted on such grounds, Correa faces five counts of torture and one of conspiracy, according to an official statement from the Department of Justice. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti pointed out the severity of Correa's actions, involving excruciating methods such as burning with molten plastic and enduring repeated beatings with a variety of instruments over several weeks.
Senior Judge Christine M. Arguello for the District of Colorado handed down the 810-month sentence, underscoring the serious consequences of human rights violations on U.S. soil. The victims, who bore the brunt of Correa's brutality for years, at last saw the scales of justice tip in their favor, with U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly emphasizing the United States' unwavering stance against such transgressions.
Correa, once a member of the Gambian "Junglers" military unit, carried out deeds that were driven by suspicions that the victims had plotted against then-President Yahya Jammeh. After a failed coup in 2006, Correa's merciless torture sessions took place at Mile 2 Prison, The Gambia's principal detention facility.
Despite entering the United States in December 2016 on a visa, Correa's past caught up with him when ICE apprehended him three years later, setting the stage for this unprecedented trial. The HSI Denver Field Office played a key role in the investigation, with support extending from agents in Senegal to personnel from the U.S. Embassy in The Gambia. Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of ICE HSI Denver threw light on the commitment to bring perpetrators of such heinous crimes to justice.
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman and others from both the District of Colorado and the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. Further contributions from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden were also noted in the Department of Justice's announcement of Correa's conviction and sentencing.
