Former Virginia teacher facing life behind bars, charged with child sexual exploitation
A federal grand jury returned an indictment earlier this week charging a Springfield, Virginia, man with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and, receipt, distribution, possession, and transportation of child pornography.
According to court papers, between January and February 2019, Monis Irfan, 21, allegedly attempted to persuade and induce a minor under the age of 13 to engage in illegal sexual activity. At the time, Irfan was an instructional assistant and substitute elementary school teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. Irfan was employed at Bush Hill Elementary School in the Alexandria section of Fairfax.
The indictment further alleges that in 2018 and 2019, Irfan traded, transported, and possessed child pornography using a cell phone and personal laptop computer.
During an undercover sting operation, Irfan was in communication on a social media site with an undercover detective posing as an individual with interests similar to those of Irfan’s.
Irfan offered to meet the undercover detective and provide sexually explicit images of children in return for access to a minor “with whom Irfan believed he would have sexual relations.”
Irfan was arrested once he met with the detective, police said. He is charged with attempted human trafficking, attempted forcible sodomy and two counts of solicitation of a minor. ~ per WTOP
If convicted of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, Irfan faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of life. If convicted of receipt, distribution, and transportation of child pornography, Irfan faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years on each count.
Irfan is currently behind bars without bond.
Police in Fairfax County are asking anyone with information about Irfan to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800. You can contact police anonymously through www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org.
(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia)
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
