The United States of America, popularly known as the US, is a dream country for many, owing to what is commonly known as the American dream, which is a belief that the country has a lot of opportunities and anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work.
The positive stories and the depiction of America in movies have seen many, far and wide, desire to relocate to the country.
For those who've relocated, some are doing well and have fully experienced the American dream, while for others, it didn't work out for them, with some getting on the wrong side and being sentenced to prison.
In this article, we outline 5 Kenyans who are serving heavy jail terms in the US:
Mohammed Dida
The former presidential candidate and a prominent figure in the country was sentenced to seven years in prison in Illinois, United States, after being found guilty of stalking and threatening an individual.
For the charge of stalking and threatening, Dida was granted two years in jail and a further five years for aggravated stalking and violation of a restraining order.
He is serving his sentence at the Big Muddy Correctional Centre in Illinois, and barring any unforeseen happenings, Dida will be at the facility until 3 April 2029.
Baktash Akasha Abdalla
In August 2019, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey S. Berman, announced that Akasha was sentenced to 25 years in prison over claiming to deal in illegal drugs.
According to Berman, the charges included conspiring to import and importing heroin and methamphetamine, conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices in connection with their drug-trafficking crimes, and obstructing justice by paying bribes to Kenyan officials to avoid extradition to the United States.
Akasha was arrested in Kenya in November 2014 after a sting operation where the accused is said to have provided 99 kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of methamphetamine to undercover detectives from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
"Baktash Akasha led a massive drug trafficking organization responsible for shipping tons of finished narcotics, and the ingredients to make tons more, around the world. Akasha, along with his brother, ensured that their enterprise operated with impunity for nearly 20 years by eliminating and intimidating rival drug traffickers with violence and murder, and bribing Kenyan government officials to avoid extradition to the US.
"Akasha was once one of the world's most prolific and violent drug traffickers, but today's significant sentence of 25 years in prison all but guarantees he will never profit from the illicit drug trade again," Berman said in a statement by the US Attorney, Southern District of New York.
Brian Kibiwot Chuchuney
Kibiwot was sentenced to 20 years in prison for brutally attacking a 70-year-old woman in downtown Phoenix.
In a statement on 11 October 2024, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell noted that Kibiwot got to an apartment and asked for water from the receptionist who was working the night shift, after which he attempted to assault and then sexually abuse her.
He then reportedly took the defendant's clothing and left. He was arrested in the area a few hours after the incident.
During the hearing, Kibiwot pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping and two counts of attempt to commit sexual assault. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for kidnapping and lifetime supervised probation for each count of attempted sexual assault.
"This defendant's heinous actions and lack of remorse make it clear that he poses a significant danger to the community. Thanks to the work of Deputy County Attorney Maren Sorensen, he will now spend decades in prison, facing the consequence of his actions," Mitchell said.
Samuel Wambugu
Wambugu, a Kenyan immigrant in Kansas, was in October 2024 sentenced to 17 years in prison over claims of sexually molesting an 85-year-old at a nursing home.
Reports indicate that Wambugu was caught sexually assaulting the granny, who was suffering from dementia.
At the time of the unfortunate incident, Wambugu was working at The Heritage of Overland Park, a nursing home that catered for persons suffering from dementia.
Paul Maucha
Maucha was in June 2024 sentenced to 135 months in prison (11 years) for perpetrating an advance fee and investment scheme that reportedly defrauded numerous victims.
A US Attorney's office indicated that a federal jury convicted Maucha on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.
"The defendant tricked investors into giving him money with promises of favorable financial opportunities. But, instead of following through with those promises, the defendant pocketed the fees and caused investors to lose millions. This sentence holds the defendant accountable and sends a clear message to anyone considering a similar scam," "aid US Attorney Matthew M. Graves.
The statement by the US Attorney's office further noted that US District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols also ordered Maucha to serve three years of supervised release, to pay a $200,000 fine, a $400 special assessment, and restitution and forfeiture both in the amount of $1,901,252.
