ATLANTA – – Ilirjan Shema has been convicted of violently attacking his spouse, a US diplomat serving abroad at the US embassy compound in Moldova.
“Domestic violence is physical abuse with the potential for generational damage,” said US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “There is never an excuse for this behavior. Holding these perpetrators to account is an important task of the judiciary, which takes this office seriously.”
“As the lead agency in this investigation, the Diplomatic Security Service has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring that those who commit domestic violence against diplomatic personnel face consequences,” said Andrew Wroblewski, deputy director of domestic operations at the US Diplomatic Security Service – Department of Foreign Affairs (DSS). “Our strong relationship with our law enforcement partners and the US Attorney’s Office remains vital in the pursuit of justice for all victims.”
According to the charges and information presented in court: Ilirjan Shema accompanied his family to Chisinau, Moldova, where his wife, a US State Department employee, was assigned as a field officer at the US Embassy. While in Moldova, Shema got a job as a family member to work at the embassy.
On April 10, 2021, at her official residence provided by the embassy, Shema attacked his wife, hit her, threw her to the ground and strangled her in the presence of the couple’s two children. The attack resulted in physical injuries. Shema was subsequently arrested on August 5, 2021 while traveling from Albania to Atlanta, Georgia.
Ilirjan Shema, also known as “Lily”, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by US District Judge Stephen Grimberg to one year and six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to make amends to the victim and to attend a domestic violence program after his release from prison. Shema was convicted of assault on November 8, 2023 in violation of Title 18 of United States law Section 2261(a)(1) after pleading guilty.
This case was investigated by the US State Department’s Office of Special Investigations of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
Assistant US Attorney Stephanie Gabay-Smith and Trial Attorney Brian Morgan from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Division prosecuted the case.
For more information, please contact the US Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The web address of the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
