Two men received decades-long prison terms and lifetime supervision for conspiring to sexually exploit a child, with AVAA penalties ordered by a U.S. court
Two men have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for conspiring to sexually exploit a child, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona has announced.
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United States District Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Wisam Sharieff, 44, of Euless, Texas, to 960 months (80 years) in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release.
He was also ordered to pay a $135,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA).
Sharieff pleaded guilty in June 2025 to conspiracy to engage in sexual exploitation of children, conspiracy to receive and distribute child sexual abuse material, and sexual exploitation of children.
His co-defendant, Blake Miller Barakat, also known as “Hamna,” 50, of Shelby County, Alabama, was earlier sentenced in October 2025 to 840 months (70 years) in prison, also followed by lifetime supervised release.
Barakat was ordered to pay a $30,000 AVAA special assessment after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Sharieff presented himself online as a Quran recitation instructor and connected with Barakat as a student.
Investigators said the pair shared explicit materials online and coerced a seven-year-old child into producing sexually explicit content.
U.S. Attorney Escalona described the offences as among the most serious crimes and reaffirmed the commitment of authorities to pursue offenders who target children.
FBI Birmingham Special Agent in Charge David R. Fitzgibbons said the agency would continue to work with partners to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice.
The case was investigated by the FBI Birmingham Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the FBI Dallas-Fort Worth Violent Crimes Task Force, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama, and the Euless Police Department in Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
The AVAA provides financial penalties that contribute to a fund designed to support victims of child sexual abuse material.
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The prosecution was also part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which coordinates efforts to combat child exploitation and identify victims.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
