Minnesota Man Arrested in UAE Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges

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St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Minnesota man who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to face child pornography and related charges has pleaded guilty.

According to federal court documents, 30-year-old Ibrahim Ghassa Sleyman of Bloomington was accused of using Snapchat and other messaging apps to contact and "solicit sexually explicit material and sex acts from minors.” Some of the victims were as young as 9 years old.

Sleyman was also accused of grooming and enticing a victim to produce child pornography and engage in sexual activity using drugs and gifts. The US Attorney for Minnesota says Sleyman then fled to the Middle East in September of last year after he became aware that he was the target of a law enforcement investigation.

Officials say he was eventually apprehended by UAE authorities and was returned to the US for prosecution in September. Sleyman went before a federal judge in St. Paul last week and entered guilty pleas to one count each of attempted production and production of child pornography, and enticement of a minor.

At last count, federal prosecutors have identified at least 22 minor victims and Sleyman admitted to victimizing 22 minors as part of his guilty plea. The FBI is asking anyone who believes they or their children have been a victim of Sleyman's criminal actions to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or through tips.fbi.gov.

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