News Releases

Philadelphia man indicted for traveling for illicit sex

PHILADELPHIA - A city resident was charged for traveling abroad to engage in illicit sex on March 18 as a result of an investigation started by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Omar Rashaad Bey was indicted on four counts of traveling to Egypt for the purposes of engaging in illicit sexual conduct and three counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places and three counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of ninety years imprisonment, a $1.75 million fine, lifetime supervised release and a $700 special assessment.

The case was investigated jointly by ICE and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable. Launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested almost 12,000 individuals through Operation Predator.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.