Lackawanna man pleads guilty for role in kidnapping conspiracy of sister

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Lackawanna man pleaded guilty to the charge of misprision of felony for his role in the kidnapping conspiracy of his sister that lasted for more than two years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

In September 2021, 32-year-old Waleed Abughanem, along with his father and brother, allegedly forced the victim to stay in their family residence in Lackawanna for several weeks. In October, Abughanem drove her and other family members to an airport to travel to Egypt, and later to Yemen.

It is alleged that his father, Khaled Abughanem and brother, Adham Abughanem, intended to find a man for her to enter into a non-consensual arranged marriage.

From October 2021 until April 6, 2023, the victim was held involuntarily in the two countries. She did not have access to her passport and was not permitted to leave the country without her families approval as an unmarried woman, officials said.

Abughanem knew she was being held involuntarily and had his wife supervise her when he wasn’t present. Upon his arrival back to the U.S. in December 2022, he gave a false statement to U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding his sister’s whereabouts.

Charges remaining pending against Khaled and Adham. They are scheduled back in court next month.

Waleed is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 25.

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.