Three Carnival Cruise Lines employees, Abdhul Rouvoof Shaik, Pankaj Singh Bohra, and Reza Heta Pratama, are facing serious charges after being accused of possessing child sexual abuse material. The trio was arrested in July 2024 at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Shaik, Bohra, and Pratama were all previously employed by Carnival Cruise Lines. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, found all three in possession of child pornography, leading to their arrest.
The indictment charges each of the defendants with Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). If convicted, Shaik, Bohra, and Pratama each face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release of up to life, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
The cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the investigation and prosecution of these cases.
The prosecution of these cases is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Grimy Times will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Related Federal Cases
- Reza Heta Pratama, Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Louisiana 2025 · New York
- Kevin Lillis, Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material, Louisiana 2025 · Maryland
- Rex Gibson, Possession of Sexual Abuse Images and/or Videos of Children under the age of 13, Louisiana 2024 · Missouri
- Thomas Hanes, Child Pornography Distribution and Possession, Louisiana · Louisiana
- Ronald Wilson, Child Pornography Possession, Louisiana 2024 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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