STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Ibrahim Dirweesh, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, with possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering, who is handling the case, stated that according to a previously filed complaint and the indictment, on August 22, 2018, following a secondary inspection, the defendant was detained by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. During that secondary inspection, videos of child pornography were discovered on Dirweesh’s cell phone. The videos were sexual in nature involving pre-pubescent children as young as two years-old.
The defendant was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and is being held.
The defendant was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and is being held.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
