Gambiaj.com – (NEW YORK, United States) – Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi, a Lebanese-British-Gambian-Belgian businessman and longtime associate of former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh, has been sentenced to time served in a U.S. federal court for scheming to finance Hezbollah.

The 60-year-old, who has been in custody for two years, will now be deported following his conviction in New York.

Bazzi is a well-known figure in The Gambia due to his close ties with ex-President Yahya Jammeh. He played a key role in several lucrative businesses under Jammeh’s administration, controlling significant stakes in the country’s petroleum and energy sectors. His influence extended to key economic dealings, leading to his eventual designation by the U.S. Treasury Department as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2018 for allegedly providing financial support to Hezbollah. His businesses in The Gambia, including Global Trading Group and Euro African Group, were subject to U.S. sanctions.

The Case Against Bazzi and What’s Next

Bazzi was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges. The case revolved around his secret involvement in a $7 million stake in the former Middle Eastern restaurant chain La Shish in Metro Detroit. Prosecutors detailed how he collaborated with fugitive Talal Chahine, the founder of La Shish, to wire over $820,000 overseas in an attempt to bypass U.S. sanctions that prohibited financial transactions with designated terrorists.

The scheme involved elaborate methods to disguise the origin and destination of the funds. Prosecutors revealed that Bazzi and Chahine discussed routing the money through third parties in China under the guise of a restaurant equipment purchase, a fictitious real estate deal in Lebanon, intra-family loans in Kuwait, or a fraudulent franchising agreement for a Lebanese-based restaurant chain in the U.S.

Despite facing a potential 20-year sentence, Bazzi’s legal team argued for his release, emphasizing that he had already spent two years in custody and would likely remain detained for several months pending deportation. Prosecutors had sought a prison term of up to 46 months, but the judge ruled in favor of time served. Bazzi has also agreed to forfeit nearly $830,000 involved in the illegal transaction.

Bazzi’s sentencing marks a significant development in U.S. efforts to curb Hezbollah’s financial networks. His deportation is expected to follow soon, but his destination remains uncertain. Given his multiple citizenships and the international implications of his conviction, authorities will determine where he will be sent. His designation as a terrorist financier could limit his options, as some countries may refuse to accept him.

This case highlights the extensive global efforts to disrupt terrorist financing and further reinforces the scrutiny surrounding figures linked to former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh.