A 32-year-old O’Fallon man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in child pornography.
Hamza L. Nijmeh was sentenced by United States District Court Judge David R. Herndon to 12 years imprisonment for one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. The sentences will run concurrently with each other.
Nijmeh was also ordered to pay $6,500 in restitution to three identified victims of the child pornography images.
The investigation into Nijmeh’s activities began in August 2015, when law enforcement officials in Albuquerque, New Mexico received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a New Mexico suspect who was trading child pornography online.
Agents with the Fairview Heights division of the FBI identified Nijmeh as one of the individuals involved in the online trading of child pornography and conducted a forensic search of his phone, which found 483 image files and 281 videos containing child pornography.
Nijmeh was charged with distribution and receipt of child pornography and was found guilty. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release to follow his imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Fairview Heights division and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell.
Defendant: Hamza L. Nijmeh
Crime: Distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography
City and State: O’Fallon, Illinois
Exact Date: August 14, 2015 (distribution of child pornography), August 15, 2015 (receipt of child pornography), and March 2023 (sentencing)
Sentence: 12 years imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release
Dollar Amount: $6,500 in restitution
Related Federal Cases
- Mark Nagel, Child Pornography Production, Indiana 2023 · Indiana
- Simon Hessler, Production of Child Pornography, Connecticut 2019 · North Carolina
- Joe Medina, Child Exploitation, Illinois 2024 · New Hampshire
- Lawrence Tinsman, Distribution of Child Pornography, Indiana 2013 · Alaska
- Nehemiah Lafoe, Child Exploitation, Illinois 2017 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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