Iraqi Citizen Pleads Guilty to Lying to Federal Officers

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Israa Sultan, age 43, of New York, New York, pled guilty today to making a false statement to federal authorities.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Port Director Timothy Walker of the Alexandria Bay Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), made the announcement.

On December 8, 2023, Sultan-an Iraqi national lawfully present in the United States-attempted to cross from New York into Canada using a United States passport. Canadian authorities refused to grant entry to Sultan, and they turned her over to CBP. Sultan falsely told a CBP Officer that she was the person depicted in the passport. When CBP searched Sultan, they recovered approximately 20 grams of cocaine.

Sultan faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, when she is sentenced on July 26, 2024. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

CBP investigated this case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting.