A former anesthesiologist from Tufts Medical Center, Sadeq Ali Quraishi, was found guilty of attempting to traffic a child for sex, following his indictment by a federal grand jury in November 2022. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the 47-year-old physician was convicted of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child.
Quraishi was swept up in an undercover operation after responding to an online advertisement that purportedly offered commercial sex with two underage girls. He entered into extensive communications with undercover agents posing as a trafficker, agreeing to pay $250 for a sexual act with a 14-year-old girl. He was arrested at a Waltham hotel while in possession of the negotiated cash amount. "The trafficking of women and minors for commercial sex is ever present in our communities and sex buyers from all walks of life drive this demand," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, in a statement obtained by the Department of Justice. He warned against those attempting to sexually exploit children, emphasizing the severe legal consequences and the ongoing efforts to prosecute traffickers and purchasers alike.
Quraishi's sentencing is scheduled for January 28, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley. The conviction carries severe penalties, including a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, and could lead to a life sentence, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and up to $250,000 in fines.
Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England, commented on the case. "HSI will never relent in our pursuit of bringing child predators to justice," he affirmed, according to the DOJ announcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Lauren A. Graber of the Health Care Fraud Unit. For those affected by or knowing commercial sex trafficking, assistance can be sought by contacting [email protected].
