Man Arrested At Peace Bridge On Child Pornography Charges

CONTACT:   Barbara Burns
PHONE:        (716) 843-5817
FAX #:           (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced that Ibrahim Dirweesh, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a lifetime period of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering, who is handling the case, stated that Ibrahim Dirweesh was apprehended by officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection working at the Peace Bridge after being referred to secondary inspection.  That secondary inspection revealed videos of child pornography located on Dirweesh’s cell phone.

The defendant made an initial appearance on August 23, 2018, before United States Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr.  Judge Schroeder ordered Dirweesh detained following a detention hearing.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director Rose Brophy, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.