Allentown Man Who Allegedly Sought Child Sex in Cherry Hill Indicted

An Allentown, PA, man who was arrested in Cherry Hill on his way to what he thought was a sexual encounter with an 8-year-old girl now faces the possibility of life in prison after being indicted Tuesday on five federal crimes related to that incident, United States Attorney Zane David Memeger announced.

Ramy Ahmed, 30, of the 2000 block of West Pennsylvania Street, was charged with traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transportation of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor, stemming from a two-month undercover operation, in which Ahmed allegedly communicated with an officer with the Department of Homeland Security, who posed as a father willing to let his daughter be exploited.

The case against him, part of Project Safe Childhood, began following a Craigslist post by Ahmed titled “Looking for pervy dads for incest,” authorities said, and progressed to Ahmed emailing child pornography to the undercover agent as he described, sometimes in graphic detail, what he wanted to do with the 8-year-old.

Ahmed even bragged about how much child pornography he possessed, authorities indicated in the initial affidavit filed earlier this month.

"Here is preview of what I have. Look at the number in the bottom left corner of the pictures I sent you!" Ahmed allegedly wrote in one email to the agent included in the affidavit.

Other emails included attachments with child pornography and screenshots of child porn video-filled folders on Ahmed’s computer, authorities said.

Authorities seized six thumb drives—at least one of which had child pornography, totaling 45 pictures and videos—an iPhone, an iPad, a Toshiba laptop, more than a dozen DVDs and CDs, a digital camera, a tablet computer, an LG cell phone and two hard drives related to the charges against him, according to the indictment.

Ahmed was arrested April 2 at an undisclosed location in Cherry Hill, after making the 70-mile drive to what he believed was the sexual encounter promised by nearly two months of communications with the undercover agent, authorities said, which included emails, texts and Yahoo! Chat sessions. He confessed to the agent following his arrest, authorities said.

Ahmed remains in federal custody pending an arraignment.