A Maryland man and former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting two minor girls while serving overseas.
According to a statement released by the United States Department of Justice, 41-year-old Fode Sitafa Mara was sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction on multiple serious charges stemming from crimes committed in 2022 and 2023.
The Justice Department stated that prosecutors, a federal jury in the District of Maryland, found Mara guilty after a two-week trial in October 2025.
He was convicted on four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, as well as one count each of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted obstruction of justice.
Mara, a U.S. citizen, was working at the American Embassy in Ouagadougou at the time he carried out the offenses, according to the statement.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division described the crimes as particularly disturbing, noting that the defendant abused vulnerable victims while representing the United States abroad.
“The defendant, while representing the U.S. government abroad, violently sexually abused two acutely vulnerable child victims,” Duva said.
“His crimes were reprehensible. While no sentence could undo the harm he caused, today’s outcome demonstrates that those who abuse children, domestically or abroad, will face significant consequences in the American justice system.”
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland emphasized the government’s commitment to prosecuting offenders who target minors.
“Our message is clear: those who prey on our children will pay a hefty price,” Hayes said.
“Mara targeted and abused two innocent young girls, and now he’ll be behind bars for a long time where he belongs.
“We’re committed to partnering with our community and law-enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served by relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting predators who commit these deplorable acts.”
The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), which assisted in the investigation, also reaffirmed its commitment to accountability within U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide.
Deputy Assistant Director George Semertsidis of the DSS Office of Special Investigations said the agency remains dedicated to protecting local communities and maintaining the integrity of American diplomatic facilities.
“We will thoroughly investigate any allegations of criminal conduct by those associated with U.S. diplomatic facilities and work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring offenders to justice,” Semertsidis said.
“This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to accountability and the protection of the most vulnerable.”
The Justice Department noted that the prosecution reflects U.S. authorities’ ability to pursue and punish crimes committed by American citizens abroad, particularly offenses involving the exploitation of children.
