Mohammad Ebrahim Torki Harchegani, aged 38, has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor for sexual activity. The charge was revealed during a contested bond hearing where an FBI special agent provided testimony about an online chat operation targeting child sex offenders conducted on December 3-4, 2024. In this operation, multiple agencies participated, and an officer posed as a 14-year-old female. Torki engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the alleged minor and later traveled to what he believed was her residence to engage in sexual activities. He was arrested at the scene.
Testimony indicated that Torki was employed as a researcher at the University of South Carolina during the time of these events. Following his arrest, his employment was suspended, and his contract with the university was not renewed.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children sexually while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at http://www.justice.gov/psc.
At the hearing, Torki was ordered detained and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
The investigation involved several entities including the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Winston Holliday.
It is important to note that all charges are accusations at this stage; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.