Lackawanna man convicted by a federal jury of attempting to force his sister to marry in Yemen going to prison
BUFFALO, N.Y. / Thursday, October 1, 2026 - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Adham Abughanem, 29, of Lackawanna, NY, who was convicted following a federal jury trial of conspiracy to kidnap a person in a foreign country and kidnapping conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
On September 8, 2021, Adham Abughanem and his father, Khaled Abughanem, flew from Buffalo, NY, to Guadalajara, Mexico to kidnap Victim 1, who is the daughter of Khaled and the sister of Adham. Between September 10, 2021, and April 6, 2023, the defendants conspired to transport Victim 1 from the Western District of New York to Cairo, Egypt, and then to Sanaa, Yemen, where they confined Victim 1 for approximately 16 months with the purpose of marrying her to a man not of her choosing. In addition, on March 14, 2023, defendant Khaled Abughanem threatened to “slaughter[]” Victim 1 in retaliation for information given by Victim 1 to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission of a federal offense.
Khaled Abughanem, who was also convicted of threatening to retaliate against a victim, was previously sentenced to serve 17 years in prison.
“These sentences send a clear message: kidnapping, coercion, and threats of violence—whether committed here or abroad—will be met with unwavering federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Today’s outcome reflects our commitment to protecting victims and holding offenders accountable.”
“Today’s sentencing brings a measure of justice to the victim and holds Adham Abughanem accountable for his actions,” said Allen D. Davis II, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “Abughanem conspired to take away his own sister’s freedom and force her into a life she did not choose. The FBI will relentlessly pursue those who use violence or coercion to deprive others of their freedom, whether their crimes are committed here in the United States or thousands of miles away.”
“The Diplomatic Security Service welcomes today’s sentencing of Adham Abughanem for conspiring to kidnap his sister and force her to marry in Yemen,” said DSS Deputy Assistant Director for Protective Intelligence Investigations David Bright. “Justice was served thanks to the extraordinary courage of the victim and the close collaboration among DSS, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Lackawanna Police Department.”
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and Director of the Diplomatic Security Service Nicholas Collura.
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Contact
Barbara Burns
716-843-5817
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York
