MIAMI – The FBI is looking for a man who reportedly served as a Syrian brigadier general and may be hiding in South Florida.
According to a FBI news release , Moustafa Abed Ayoub, 75, has ties to South Florida including Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Ayoub, who is 5 feet 8 and weighs about 165 pounds, is being sought for “procurement of citizenship and unlawful naturalization.”
Officials said Ayoub is accused of providing false testimony about the length of his trips outside of the United States to U.S. Immigration Officers.
Subjects filing under United States Citizenship and Immigration Service Form must have been present in the United States for at least 30 months.
The FBI says Ayoub claimed he met this standard, however, travel records indicate he was actually outside of the U.S. for more than 1,020 days, making him ineligible for naturalization.
The FBI says Ayoub reportedly served as a brigadier general for Syrian Intelligence services during the early 1980s through the late 1990s.
Officials said it is also possible he is still in Syria or Lebanon.
If you have any information concerning Ayoub, please contact your nearest FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
