Leral.net | S'informer en temps réel

Un an de sursis pour Marco Senghor à San Francisco

Rédigé par leral.net le Samedi 24 Août 2019 à 01:21 | | 0 commentaire(s)|

Soulagement pour Marco Senghor. Le restaurateur sénégalais, propriétaire de Bissap Baobab et de Little Baobab, échappe à la prison. Il écope d’un an de sursis, dans un jugement rendu à San Francisco, jeudi 22 août 2019. Il devra également payer une amende de 1 000 dollars et réaliser cent heures de travaux d’intérêt général.


Il était accusé d’avoir menti sur ses documents d’immigration au sujet d’un mariage réalisé il y a vingt ans. “Je suis très content du verdict“, a-t-il déclaré à la sortie du tribunal.

Ce verdict est perçu comme clément par rapport à la peine de prison de dix ans et la menace d’expulsion du territoire qu’encourait le restaurateur. Il avait plaidé coupable en mars et présenté ses excuses aux autorités fédérales.

Son arrestation, en 2018, avait provoqué une vive émotion au sein de la communauté francophone. Le descendant de Léopold Sédar Senghor est une figure appréciée dans la Baie. Son restaurant Bissap Baobab, situé à l’époque à Mission, était un point de rassemblement pour les francophones de San Francisco et les amoureux de culture africaine.

Selon un compte-rendu du San Francisco Chronicle, le juge Orrick, chargé d’instruire l’affaire, a déclaré qu’il “n’avait pas à ordonner (une peine de travaux d’intérêt général, ndr) compte-tenu de votre historique. Mais je vais le faire au cas où quelqu’un regarde (cette affaire) dans le futur“.

No Prison Time for Bissap Baobab Owner in Conclusion to Immigration Drama

Marco Senghor will stay in the US and return his focus to his popular businesses

Patricia Chang

Marco Senghor, the Senegalese-born owner of celebrated Mission community businesses Little Baobab and Bissap Baobab, was sentenced yesterday to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine for making false claims in his citizenship application. A maximum sentence would have been 10 years in prison, so the result was a major relief to the restaurateur, who can now remain in the US.

The decision concludes a federal immigration drama that began with Senghor’s arrest by federal agents in 2018The Chronicle and Mission Local reported  the sentence from the courtroom, where Senghor celebrated with supporters.

“Marco is very happy and relieved by the sentence he received today and looks forward to returning in full force to his restaurant, entertainment and community work,” a representative for the restaurateur told Eater SF.

Last year, federal agents charged Senghor with two felonies that would have revoked his citizenship and stripped his assets, claiming he illegally obtained US citizenship through a sham marriage. In a deal struck this spring, Senghor pleaded guilty  to a lesser charge, making false claims in his citizenship application. Senghor claimed he lived with a woman whom he later legally married, but in fact, they hadn’t met until the ceremony, according to prosecutors, and never saw each other afterward. Eventually they divorced.

Senghor’s lawyers argued that the young immigrant was taken advantage of by “shady” individuals who persuaded him to pay for the marriage. After hearing their arguments and reading dozens of letters from Senghor’s supporters in the community, Judge William H. Orrick III delivered the light sentence.

“Given your history, I don’t think I have to order [community service],” Orrick reportedly joked, referencing the letters of support. “But I’m going to anyway just in case someone looks at this down the road.” Senghor was also sentenced to 100 hours of service.

Earlier this spring, still fearing deportation and in need of funds to pay his legal fees, Senghor sold and closed his primary Senegalese restaurant and dance hall, 20-year-old Bissap Baobab. Just a year prior, he’d finally purchased the building  it occupied. But since the sale (for $2 million to the owner of Excelsior empanadas maker El Porteño Chifa Peruana), Senghor has expanded Little Baobab, making room for more of Bissap Baobab’s famous dance parties. He reopened a Bissap Baobab location in Oakland, too.

“I have always believed in the US Justice [system],” Senghor told Eater SF today. “The sentence has reinforced my belief that every one can still believe in the American dream.”