HOUSTON — A former particular agent with the Naval Prison Investigative Service, generally known as NCIS, was sentenced to jail Dec. 15 for varied crimes associated to her illicit relationship with the goal of a U.S. counterterrorism investigation. The lady’s conviction and sentencing observe an investigation carried out by NCIS, Homeland Safety Investigations Houston, the FBI, the U.S. Division of Commerce, the U.S. Division of State and the Protection Prison Investigative Service.
A choose within the Southern District of Texas sentenced Leatrice Malika DeBruhl-Daniels, 49, to 9 years in federal jail to be instantly adopted by one 12 months of supervised launch for obstructing justice, making false statements, and accepting cash and items for official acts. In handing down the sentence, the court docket cited DeBruhl’s breach of belief and deterrence.
DeBruhl-Daniels was convicted of the crimes June 13 by a federal jury sitting in Houston following a six-day trial.
“Leatrice DeBruhl-Daniels betrayed her badge and our nation by revealing delicate and categorised info to the goal of an FBI counterterrorism investigation in trade for cash, items and affection,” stated NCIS Director Omar Lopez. “Holding her accountable will make it clear that NCIS won’t tolerate corruption inside our ranks.”
DeBruhl-Daniels was a veteran NCIS particular agent working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There, she met Nadal Diya, a Syrian businessman residing in Dubai on the lookout for assist in securing a U.S. visa. At the moment, Diya was the goal of a number of federal investigations.
At trial, the jury heard from 16 authorities witnesses, together with quite a few brokers and Diya himself. Testimony revealed that in 2017, DeBruhl-Daniels used her place to get sure advantages from Diya in trade for offering info to him about his visa standing. The items included an costly party at Diya’s dwelling, roughly $1,400 in money and the promise of a job for her son in Diya’s firm.
The connection with Diya finally turned sexual. Throughout that relationship, she revealed he was a goal of an FBI counterterrorism investigation — info that was categorised on the time. She additionally advised him that if he got here to the U.S., he would probably be arrested.
In late December 2017, federal brokers questioned Debruhl-Daniels about Diya. Nonetheless, she didn’t disclose their intimate relationship, the items he had given her, the job he supplied her son and the categorised info she supplied. Following her interview, she visited with Diya and coached him on what to say in a subsequent interview.
A number of months later, in Could 2018, Debruhl-Daniels left Dubai for a extremely delicate and coveted job in Hawaii. Nonetheless, she quickly realized she was not getting the brand new place. It was solely then that Debruhl-Daniels confessed the illicit relationship, cash, party and items, and the categorised info she had revealed to her superiors and investigators.
Debruhl-Daniels testified in her personal protection at trial. She claimed, amongst different issues, that the categorised info she revealed to Diya was public info. She additional tried to persuade the jury she didn’t have an obligation to disclose any of the main points of her private relationship with Diya nor her disclosures to him.
The jury discovered her responsible.
Diya, 50, of Dubai, was beforehand sentenced and has been faraway from the US.
Debruhl-Daniels will stay in custody pending switch to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be decided within the close to future.
U.S. Legal professional Alamdar S. Hamdani and Assistant United States Legal professional Arthur R. Jones prosecuted the case.
For extra information and data on HSI Houston’s position within the world counterterrorism mission and the way the company defends the nation in opposition to threats to nationwide safety, observe us on Twitter @HSIHouston.