A well-known Islamic leader and Somali immigrant from Southeast Texas has just been convicted for horrific crimes against children.
An Islamic religious teacher convicted in Fort Bend County for sexually abusing three children has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Mohamed Omar Ali, 61, was found guilty by a jury in late October on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child.
The investigation into the abuse of children began in September 2019 after reports that he would meet victims through different mosques, offering to teach them the Quran. Prosecutors said in a statement they believed he abused victims through sexual contact beginning as far back as 2013.
Judge Tameika Carter sentenced Ali to 35 years in prison for the aggravated sexual assault conviction and 10 years for each indecency with a child through sexual contact conviction. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
At least four victims came forward during the investigation, including a victim who testified during the punishment phase of the trial, authorities said.
Last year former Fort Bend County Sheriff turned Congressman Tory Nehls warned us about this guy.
Mohamed Omar Ali, a 59-year-old Somali national, was arrested Friday on charges of sexual assault of a child and sexual indecency of a child after an investigation was launched in September, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls told reporters at a press conference Monday.
Nehls described Ali as a popular “religious leader” who spent time at several mosques in Fort Bend County, as well as in greater Houston. Investigators believe Ali also victimized other children dating back to 2013 after he arrived in the US.
“We do know that there are other victims out there,” Nehls said. “And it is our plea today to those victims to please reach out to us so we can conduct further investigation.”
Ali met his alleged victims through their parents, who invited him into their homes and paid him to teach their children the Quran, Detective Michael Alexander said.
All of Ali’s purported victims were juveniles at the time of the alleged abuse, according to Alexander, who declined to specify whether they were boys or girls.