Sharon Gohari Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Migrants, Child Abuse Material, Faces 20 Years
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 12
Sharon Gohari Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Migrants, Child Abuse Material, Faces 20 Years
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 12
Brooklyn federal court heard Sharon Gohari plead guilty to human smuggling and receiving child sexual abuse material after prosecutors said he ran the scheme from late 2020 until his May 2025 arrest.
At least 1 migrant he helped bring in had ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, officials said, after Gohari routed Iranian nationals through Turkey and Mexico and charged thousands of dollars per trip.
Federal agents searching his devices found videos of child sexual abuse involving victims as young as 5, plus hundreds of photos and recordings of women secretly filmed across New York City.
Gohari now faces a mandatory minimum 5-year sentence on the exploitation charge, up to 20 years in prison, and a possible additional 10 years for the smuggling offense.
How many other individuals with potential terrorist ties might have entered the U.S. through similar smuggling routes as Gohari's network?
What new technologies or international partnerships are being developed to track and prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material across borders?
Could advanced smuggling and exploitation networks be adapting faster than current border security and law enforcement measures can respond?
Guilty Plea in Brooklyn: Sharon Gohari’s Child Exploitation and Smuggling Operation with Terrorist Links
Overview
Sharon Gohari, a 48-year-old naturalized American citizen, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to serious charges of child exploitation and running a sophisticated alien smuggling business. His arrest in May 2025 led to a federal investigation that uncovered graphic sexual images of children on his devices and revealed he had smuggled individuals into the United States, including at least one person with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These discoveries exposed both severe national security risks and disturbing predatory behavior, highlighting the complex threats posed by Gohari’s actions and setting the stage for significant legal consequences.