Ghastly Acts: Moussa Gets 22+ Years for Child Sex Abuse

NEW HAVEN, CT – Saeed Mustapha Moussa, 33, a Ghanaian national formerly residing in East Hartford, Connecticut, will spend more than two decades behind bars after being sentenced to 274 months (22 years and 10 months) in federal prison for the vile act of video recording his sexual assault of a young child. U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam delivered the sentence today in New Haven, bringing a measure of justice to a particularly disturbing case.

The case unfolded in September 2020 when the East Hartford Police Department received disturbing reports that Moussa’s cell phone contained explicit videos depicting him engaged in sexual activity with a minor. A subsequent, court-authorized search of Moussa’s residence yielded his cell phone, computer equipment, and various storage devices. Investigators didn’t stop there; a search warrant was also executed on Moussa’s Google Photos account, revealing a horrifying trove of evidence.

Court documents reveal that between 2018 and 2020, Moussa systematically recorded himself sexually assaulting a girl who was under the age of 12. The sheer duration of the abuse and the deliberate recording of the acts paint a picture of calculated depravity. Moussa has been held in custody since his arrest on related state charges on October 27, 2020, and pleaded guilty in federal court to production of child pornography on November 15, 2021. Those state charges remain pending.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Vanessa Roberts Avery, announced the sentencing, emphasizing the gravity of the crime. “This case represents a horrific betrayal of trust and a profound violation of a child’s innocence,” Avery stated. Following his prison term, Moussa will also face immigration proceedings, likely resulting in deportation.

The investigation was a collaborative effort led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the East Hartford Police Department, and the West Chester Township (Ohio) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford prosecuted the case, skillfully building a case that led to today’s conviction. Avery also extended gratitude to the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office for their cooperation.

This prosecution falls under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, a nationwide effort dedicated to protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. Anyone with information regarding child exploitation is urged to report it immediately to the CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com. Resources and information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.