Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
Ahmed Sultan Faraz, a 30-year-old man from Farmington, Michigan, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and the distribution of such material involving children under the age of 13. U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks handed down the 240-month sentence on September 10, following Faraz’s guilty plea.
Details of the Offenses
According to court records, Faraz and five co-conspirators participated in a private chat room on a social networking application between September and October 2021. Admission to this exclusive group required participants to distribute CSAM depicting children under the age of 13.
Once inside, Faraz actively distributed illicit content and engaged in disturbing discussions with more than 50 other individuals regarding the sexual abuse of children. The victims in the distributed images and videos were as young as four years old.
Faraz’s Direct Production of CSAM
In a post-Miranda interview, Faraz admitted to communicating online with five or six minors. Further forensic analysis of his electronic devices uncovered critical evidence of his direct involvement.
Investigators determined that Faraz produced CSAM with at least two of these children and also attempted to produce such material with a third minor, highlighting his active role in child exploitation.
Additional Consequences
It was noted that in 2024, Faraz had a pending application to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Due to his conviction for these serious offenses, this application has since been denied, adding another layer of consequence to his criminal actions.
Outcome
The lengthy federal sentence underscores the severe legal repercussions for individuals involved in the distribution and production of child sexual abuse material. This case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from harm.
