GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a former University of South Carolina researcher was convicted after soliciting a detective who was posing as a minor online as part of a targeted operation.
According to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina, Mohammad Ebrahim Torki Harchegani, 40, was convicted by a federal jury following a three-day trial. Harchegani was found guilty on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that between Dec. 3 and Dec. 4, 2024, multiple agencies with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force participated in an online chat operation targeting child sex offenders where an officer posed as a 14-year-old girl. Harchegani met the undercover officer on an online dating application and began messaging with her. Shortly thereafter, he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the alleged minor over several days. Harchegani ultimately traveled to the home where he believed the girl was alone to engage in sexual activities with her, and was arrested…