Evergreen Reporter

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Mohammad Ali Hemmat, a 29-year-old from Milwaukee, to 45 years in federal prison. The sentence comes after Hemmat was found guilty of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, producing child sexual abuse material, and traveling from Wisconsin to Florida on two occasions with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with a minor. At the time of these offenses, Hemmat was already required to register as a sex offender in Wisconsin.

In addition to the prison term, Hemmat will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and must forfeit electronic devices used during the commission of his crimes. A federal jury reached its verdict in April 2024.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that between April 2022 and March 2023, Hemmat engaged in sexually grooming a 12-year-old girl from Florida using his cellphone and computer. He maintained daily contact with her through social media video chats and text messages while sending her cash, gifts, and fast food. Hemmat also shared obscene material via social media applications and remotely accessed the victim’s laptop—which he had purchased—to search for sexually explicit content. The victim eventually sent him images of child sexual abuse over the internet.

In February 2023, Hemmat traveled from Wisconsin to Florida intending to engage in sexual activity with the minor. He made another trip in March 2023 but was reported by the victim upon arrival. Attempting to return undetected, he was apprehended by law enforcement officers in Indiana. The investigation also uncovered similar tactics used by Hemmat to groom a 13-year-old child in the United Kingdom into sending sexually explicit images.

“The crime of sexually exploiting a child's vulnerability through manipulation and bribery demanded a severe consequence,” stated Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. “This sentencing demonstrates a united front against such predatory behavior.”

The case was investigated by multiple agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Jasper (Indiana) County Sheriff’s Office, Sussex County (United Kingdom) Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Risha Asokan.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.