Federal prosecutors in Boston say a Cherry Hill, New Jersey man is facing serious child-exploitation charges after a grand jury indicted him this week in a case tied to alleged conduct in Massachusetts.
Essam Meawad, 34, was indicted Monday by a federal grand jury in Boston on two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Prosecutors allege the conduct took place in August and November 2024. Meawad was arrested on related state charges in July 2025 and has remained in custody since, according to authorities.
What prosecutors allege
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts, the indictment charges Meawad with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
Prosecutors say the charging documents allege that Meawad coerced a minor into sexually explicit conduct in August and November 2024. The filings also allege that he traveled in interstate commerce in August 2024 to have illicit contact with the same minor…