Wisam Sharieff and online student Blake Barakat sentenced to combined 150 years after coercing child into pornography; judge orders $165,000 in victim restitution
A Texas man who built an international following as an online Quran instructor has been sentenced to 80 years in federal prison for using his religious authority to sexually exploit a 7-year-old child—telling his student that achieving sexual pleasure could bring them closer to Allah.
Wisam Sharieff, 44, of Euless, Texas, and his online student, Blake Miller Barakat, 51, of Shelby County, Alabama, received combined sentences of 150 years for their roles in a conspiracy that federal prosecutors described as a calculated exploitation of religious trust.
The 'Imam' and His Student
According to court documents and statements from U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona's office, Sharieff presented himself as an Imam and online instructor specializing in Quran recitation, claiming to have taught more than 25,000 students worldwide. Barakat was one of those students.
But behind the veneer of religious instruction, prosecutors say, a sinister relationship developed. Sharieff allegedly told Barakat that a person could improve their recitation of the Quran and become closer to Allah by achieving sexual pleasure—a theological justification for what would follow.
The Crimes
In October 2024, both men repeatedly watched and shared adult pornography videos with each other online. Then, prosecutors say, they turned their attention to a 7-year-old child.
According to court records, Sharieff and Barakat influenced the child to watch the pornographic videos and further coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating child pornography.
The exploitation came to light through an investigation by the FBI Birmingham Division's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, working alongside the FBI Dallas-Fort Worth Violent Crimes Task Force, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Alabama, and the Euless Police Department in Texas.
Guilty Pleas and Sentencing
In June 2025, Sharieff pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography.
On January 29, 2026, U.S. District Judge sentenced Sharieff to 960 months—the equivalent of 80 years—in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $135,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 (AVAA), which creates penalties specifically designed to compensate victims of child pornography.
Barakat, who pleaded guilty in June 2025 to sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, was sentenced in October 2025 to 840 months—70 years—in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a $30,000 AVAA special assessment.
Both men were held in the Talladega County Jail for the U.S. Marshals pending transfer to federal prison facilities.
Prosecutor's Statement
U.S. Attorney Escalona emphasized the gravity of the crimes and the message sent by the lengthy sentences.
"The exploitation of children is an egregious crime that demands immediate and decisive law enforcement action," said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Birmingham Division. "The FBI stands ready to exert maximum effort, with urgency and in lockstep with our partners, to protect children and hold these predators accountable."
The AVAA Framework
The Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 created new penalties and made several changes to existing child pornography laws. Congress intended for victims of child pornography to be compensated for the harms resulting from every perpetrator who contributes to their pain. The amounts received as AVAA special assessments are deposited in the Child Pornography Victims Reserve to pay defined monetary assistance to victims.
A Cautionary Tale
The case serves as a stark warning about the potential for religious authority to be weaponized for exploitation. Sharieff, who presented himself as a spiritual guide to tens of thousands, used his position to construct a theological framework that would justify—in his twisted telling—the sexual abuse of a child.
For the victim, now presumably 8 or 9 years old, the 150 years of prison time imposed on her abusers offers some measure of justice. But as advocates for child abuse survivors often note, no sentence can undo the harm inflicted.
Both men will spend the rest of their lives in federal custody, their religious pretensions stripped away, exposed as what prosecutors proved them to be: predators who used God as a cover for the darkest of crimes.
Posts
0 Comments