BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.
announced today that Yousef Goba, 44, of Yemen, pleaded guilty before U.S.
District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to making extortionate threats to harm and
kidnap a minor. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and
a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who is handling
the case, stated that between February 2015 and April 2015, Goba contacted the
victim through telephone and text messages and threatened to kidnap and injure
the victim’s minor child.
The minor child went to Yemen with her mother in September
2013. While in Yemen, the minor child, her mother, and siblings lived with Goba
for a period of time. When the mother wanted to move from Goba’s residence, the
defendant refused to let the minor child leave and threatened that he would
have the minor child marry a Yemeni man, if money was not paid to him. On April
8, 2015, during a call recorded by the FBI, Goba demanded that the victim pay
him $11,000 as well as money for other expenses for the release of the minor
child.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Special Agents
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special
Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.
before Judge Vilardo.
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