DALLAS — Two men have been sentenced to 70 and 80 years in prison for their roles in a child sexual exploitation case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice announced.
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Wisam Sharieff, 44, of Euless, Texas, who posed as an imam and worked as an online Quran instructor, received a 960-month prison term, followed by lifetime supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $135,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act. Sharieff pleaded guilty in June 2025 to conspiracy to sexually exploit children and multiple child pornography offenses.
His co-defendant, Blake Miller Barakat, 50, of Shelby County, Alabama, was sentenced to 840 months in prison, also with lifetime supervised release and a $30,000 special assessment. Barakat, also known as Hamna, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and possession and distribution of child pornography.
Court documents revealed that in October 2024, the pair coerced a seven-year-old child to watch pornography and perform sexually explicit acts, which were recorded for distribution. Sharieff exploited his religious status to manipulate Barakat and the child, falsely claiming that sexual acts could bring one closer to God.
US Attorney Prim F Escalona described the crimes as “among the most reprehensible offenses against society” and vowed that federal authorities will continue to aggressively pursue those who target children.
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The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative that coordinates federal, state, and local resources to combat online sexual exploitation of children, support victims, and bring offenders to justice. The FBI Birmingham Division emphasized its commitment to protecting children and ensuring offenders face the full weight of the law.