33-Year-Old Palestinian National Sentenced, Federal Prison For Travel To Engage In Sexual Conduct With Minor
Saturday, August 10, 2024, 4:30 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
PITTSBURGH, PA.- On Thursday, August 8, 2024, a 33-year-old Palestinian national appeared in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was sentenced to federal prison following his previously entered guilty plea to one count of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct.
According to United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan, on Thursday, August 8, 2024, Huthayfa Almassri, 33, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to 90 months in federal prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. Almassri had pleaded guilty to the charge on April 15, 2024.
According to documents filed with the court, Almassri traveled from Palestine on May 31, 2022, and was admitted into the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident.
Just two weeks after being admitted, in mid-June, Almassri initiated an online relationship with an individual he believed to be a minor but was actually an undercover investigator acting in his capacity to target online child predators. In his conversations with the minor, Almassri lied about his age and his real name.
On October 16, 2022, Almassri arranged to meet with the minor for a sexual encounter, but when he arrived at the prearranged location, Almassri was taken into custody by federal and local law enforcement officers.
In conjunction with his guilty plea, Almassri agreed with the District Judge’s judicial order that he would be removed from the United States.
U.S. Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigations and FBI Pittsburgh Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Almassri.
