Mali Man, Previously Ordered Deported, Wanted on Sex Assault Charges
(Tuesday, October 18, 2011)
Philadelphia — Customs and Border Protection officers at Philadelphia International Airport arrested an illegal alien Saturday who was wanted in Philadelphia on charges that included sexual assault, corruption of minors and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
CBP officers turned Amadou Dambagi, 38, a citizen of Mali living in Philadelphia, over to Philadelphia First Judicial Warrants Squad.
Dambagi was waiting in the International Arrivals Hall for his 22-year-old wife when CBP officers encountered him and another Mali man. Dambagi’s wife arrived from Paris, France, and CBP officers attempted to validate her intent to visit the United States.
Officers escorted the two men to the secondary inspection area after neither could produce a Permanent Resident Card and both admitted to be living in the United States for several years.
Records indicated that Dambagi entered the United States in 1998 and never left. A biometric examination revealed two aliases, an active Philadelphia Courts arrest warrant, and a deportation order from 2008.
“Customs and Border Protection preaches the importance of conducting effective and complete interviews on arriving international passengers, and the arrest of this illegal alien on sexual assault allegations is illustrative of this approach,” said Allan Martocci, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “Most foreign visitors are visiting the United States for legitimate purposes, such as vacation or business. It is incumbent upon CBP officers to weed out those who violate U.S. immigration laws by living and working here illegally.”
Dambagi will be deported once his criminal charges are adjudicated.
Records also confirmed that the second man, 32-years old, had been in the United States illegally since 2009. He is being detained until he can be removed.
The woman was determined to be inadmissible as an intending immigrant without an appropriate immigrant Visa. She returned to Paris Saturday night. She arrived on a French passport, but is also of Mali descent.
“The arrest of a dangerous wanted fugitive, who is also an illegal alien, resulted from exceptional police work,” said Martocci. “Hopefully this can lend some closure to the victim’s family that justice will be served.”
Charges and allegations contained in any criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
