An Afghan national has been sentenced to 35 years in prison in Texas after pleading guilty to multiple charges involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, including the production and possession of child sexual abuse material.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas identified the defendant as Badshah Sahi, who entered the United States during the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan.
According to court records, Sahi became involved with a 14-year-old girl in Forney, Texas. Investigators said he picked her up near her home and took her to different locations where she was sexually assaulted.
Court documents also describe Sahi’s contact with a 15-year-old girl in San Marcos, Texas. Prosecutors said he went to the girl’s residence, sexually assaulted her and recorded the incident.
A search of Sahi’s mobile phone after his arrest reportedly uncovered numerous images and videos involving child sexual abuse. Investigators also found sexual images involving a prepubescent child and online communications with minors, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors further said that in at least one case, Sahi used the online gaming platform Roblox to pressure a 10-year-old girl into producing and sending sexual material.
Sahi was arrested on February 28 and pleaded guilty to the charges in April. The 35-year prison sentence was imposed on September 29.
Ryan Ray Bold, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said the sentence sends a strong message to individuals who sexually exploit children and reaffirmed the prosecution’s commitment to protecting children.
Antoine Jones, the acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Dallas, described Sahi as a dangerous sexual offender targeting children and also addressed his entry into the United States during the 2021 evacuation.
The case is based on the U.S. Attorney’s Office announcement and court records. The allegations concerning the abuse and exploitation are reflected in the criminal case and guilty plea, while the specific evidence cited by prosecutors comes from investigative and court records.
The case also draws attention to the challenges of detecting online exploitation of children, particularly when offenders use digital platforms to contact or pressure minors. The sentence demonstrates the serious criminal penalties that can follow when such conduct is established in court.
