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Press Release

Man Sentenced to More Than 22 Years in Federal Prison for Video Recording His Sexual Assault of a Child

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SAEED MUSTAPHA MOUSSA, 33, a citizen of Ghana last residing in East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven to 274 months of imprisonment for video recording his sexual assault of a minor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2020, East Hartford Police received a report that Moussa’s cell phone contained videos of Moussa engaging in sexual activity with a young child.  East Hartford Police subsequently conducted a court-authorized search of Moussa’s residence and seized Moussa’s cell phone, computer equipment and computer storage media.  Investigators also executed a search warrant on Google for the contents of Moussa’s Google Photos account.  The cell phone and Google Photos account contained videos, taken between 2018 and 2020, of Moussa sexually assaulting a girl who was under the age of 12.

Moussa has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on October 27, 2020.  On November 15, 2021, he pleaded guilty in federal court to production of child pornography.  The state charges are pending.

Moussa faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the East Hartford Police Department and the West Chester Township (Ohio) Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

Updated February 8, 2023
Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Component
USAO - Connecticut

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