Former Department Of Defense Employee Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Entice A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Mohammad Abdul Malek (67, St. Marys, GA) today pleaded guilty to attempted enticement and coercion of a minor. Malek faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, between August 23 and August 26, 2018, Malek engaged in email and text communications with an undercover detective posing as a 13 year-old girl. Malek asked for photos of the “child” and told her he wanted to teach her about “making love.” Malek was advised and acknowledged that the “child” was a minor, and suggested that they meet to engage in sex. On August 26, 2018, Malek traveled to Jacksonville to meet the “child,” and was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.            

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.           

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.