Sedona man gets 120-year sentence for child pornography
Jul 25, 2017, 6:02 AM | Updated: 11:41 am
(YCSO Photo)
(YCSO Photo)
PHOENIX — A Sedona, Arizona, man was sentenced to 120 years in prison for possessing and distributing child pornography.
Samir Wadi, 44, was sentenced on Wednesday by an Arizona Superior Court Judge following a guilty verdict of 12 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor under the age of 15, making each count a class two felony.
Wadi, a local jewelry store owner, was arrested in October of 2014 after a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
He will not have the possibility of early release.
“Given his age, this prison term assures the defendant will not be a sexual threat in our community,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix, in a release. “This sentence should also serve as a sobering reminder to child predators who wrongly believe they can outrun the law and indulge their perverse desires by trying to flee the U.S. HSI will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners to hold these dangerous sexual predators accountable for their actions.”
The investigation in 2014 led to Wadi’s home, where he admitted to the illegal internet activity. His computer contained videos of child pornography.
After posting bond, he attempted to flee to Amman, Jordan, according to officials.
