Former USC employee convicted for attempted coercion, enticement of a minor

A former University of South Carolina employee has been convicted on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Mohammad Ebrahim Torki Harchegani, a 40-year-old Iranian citizen and legal U.S. resident, was found guilty following a trial where evidence showed he communicated with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl on an online dating application. The investigation, conducted in December 2024, involved multiple agencies under the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Harchegani, who used the alias 'Alex Shaw' and at least two other fake identities, engaged in sexually explicit conversations over several days before traveling to a location he believed was the girl’s home. He was arrested upon arrival and later suspended from his position as a USC researcher, with his contract terminated. Prosecutors stated Harchegani’s actions were part of a broader effort to exploit a minor, with authorities emphasizing the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. He may also face fines up to $250,000 and restitution. Sentencing will be determined by a federal judge after reviewing a presentence report. The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore praised the verdict, calling it a victory in protecting children and commending the investigative team and prosecutors for their work.