Qatari national ordered into custody on child sexual abuse material charges

HOUSTON - A 42-year-old match promoter with the FIFA national football organization and a representative of the Qatar football team has been charged with transportation of child pornography. Ali Homoud Alnaimi had originally entered the United States from Qatar, but authorities took him into custody in Galveston after returning to the United States on a cruise ship traveling from Mexico. At his detention hearing July 29, the court heard about images found on Alnaimi’s phones that allegedly depicted male children under the approximate age of five being sexually exploited. Evidence also revealed Alnami could easily return to Qatar where the United States does not have an extradition treaty. On July 31, the court ordered him into custody pending further criminal proceedings. The criminal complaint alleges Alnaimi had traveled to multiple states while in the United States and was taking a vacation from Galveston before leaving for Qatar. Alnaimi was allegedly in possession of child sexual abuse material that he had brought into the United States. Upon his arrest, the charges allege law enforcement discovered numerous videos depicting the child pornography on his cell phone. If convicted, Alnaimi faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Whitney prosecuted the case. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.