LOUISVILLE, KY – Joseph Samir Zakhari, 34, of Louisville, Kentucky, is facing a lengthy federal prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of horrific crimes against a child. The verdict, delivered September 24, 2021, follows a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, and brings a chilling case to a close.
The case originated from “Operation Gabbi Doolin,” a joint federal, state, and local online undercover investigation launched in October 2019. A Kentucky detective, posing online as a 15-year-old girl using the username “boredcrbgirl,” became the target of Zakhari’s predatory advances. Zakhari, using the username “jzakhari,” initiated contact on October 6, 2019, immediately inquiring about the girl’s age after falsely claiming to be 32 himself. When “boredcrbgirl” truthfully stated she was 15, Zakhari didn’t retreat – he doubled down, launching into a sexually charged conversation.
Court documents reveal Zakhari relentlessly sought details about the undercover officer’s sexual history, repeatedly discussed his desires to engage in sex acts with her, and demanded explicit images. He didn’t stop there. Zakhari also sent sexually explicit images of himself to the supposed teenager, escalating his attempts to groom and exploit her. The investigation quickly revealed the depravity of his intentions.
The culmination of Zakhari’s predatory behavior came on October 8, 2019, when he attempted to arrange an in-person meeting. He ordered an Uber to pick up “boredcrbgirl” and bring her to his condominium, explicitly stating the purpose of the trip was for sexual activity. Undercover law enforcement, utilizing a decoy officer, tracked the Uber to Zakhari’s address. When the decoy officer signaled her arrival, Zakhari eagerly opened the door, inviting her inside before being immediately arrested.
The jury found Zakhari guilty on all counts: attempted online enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and attempted production of child pornography. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced the conviction, highlighting the dedication of the investigators involved. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case, securing the guilty verdict.
Zakhari is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years in federal prison – a sentence that will likely keep him incarcerated for life, as there is no parole in the federal system. The joint investigation was led by the U.S. Secret Service and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, with crucial support from the Louisville Metro Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, and Kentucky State Police.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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