LOUISVILLE, KY – Joseph Samir Zakhari, 34, is headed to federal prison for 15 years after being convicted of preying on a child online. Zakhari received the sentence this week, followed by 10 years of supervised release, with no chance of parole. The case highlights the dark underbelly of online interactions and the dangers facing vulnerable children.
The conviction stemmed from a five-day jury trial concluding September 24, 2021. Zakhari was found guilty on multiple counts: attempted online enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and attempted production of child pornography. The charges originated from “Operation Gabbi Doolin,” a joint federal, state, and local undercover operation launched in October 2019.
Undercover detectives, authorized by the Kentucky Attorney General, deployed a 15-year-old decoy – using the username “boredcrbgirl” – on a social media platform. On October 6, 2019, a user named “jzakhari,” later identified as Joseph Samir Zakhari, initiated contact. Zakhari immediately inquired about the decoy’s age, and when informed she was 15, quickly steered the conversation towards sexually explicit territory. Over the next two days, he relentlessly questioned the decoy about her sexual history, detailed his own perverse desires, and demanded sexual images. He also sent explicit photos of himself.
The operation reached its climax on October 8, 2019. Zakhari attempted to lure the decoy to his condominium using an Uber. He explicitly stated the purpose of the ride was for sexual acts. Law enforcement, utilizing a decoy officer in the Uber, tracked the vehicle to Zakhari’s address. As the decoy officer exited the vehicle, Zakhari opened the door and invited her inside, at which point he was immediately arrested.
“Online communication apps provide countless opportunities for predators to engage in child exploitation, and stopping these attempts creates a safe online environment for our youngest Kentuckians,” stated Kentucky Attorney General Cameron. The operation is a grim reminder of the constant vigilance required to protect children in the digital age and honors the memory of Gabbi Doolin. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky added, “Working together with our law enforcement partners we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who sexually exploit and abuse our children.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the United States Secret Service, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and Kentucky State Police (KSP). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless and is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This conviction serves as a warning: predators hiding behind screens will be hunted down and brought to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Quinnton Dawson, Child Exploitation, Louisville KY, 2024 · Kentucky
- Tyler Barriss, Online Stalking, Orange County CA, 2022 · Kentucky
- Three Kentucky men, Scheme Facilitated North Korea Sanctions Evasio… · Pennsylvania
- Zachary Benson, Threats Against President-Elect, Ohio 2016 · Kentucky
- Deric Lostutter, Website Hacking, KY 2023 · Kentucky
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
