A former senior adviser to Barack Obama’s administration has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years after flying to the UK to rape what he believed was a nine-year-old girl.
Rahamim Shy, 47, an international investment banker from Jersey City, New Jersey, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday.
Shy had worked as a senior adviser for Pakistan and Afghanistan during the Obama administration before his arrest in Bedford last February.
The girl he intended to abuse did not exist and was part of an undercover operation by Bedfordshire Police.
Rahamim Shy was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years in prison
Shy flew into Gatwick Airport on February 23, 2024, before driving to Bedford where he was arrested.
Officers discovered cuddly toys and condoms in his luggage, which prosecutors said demonstrated his intent to groom the child before abuse.
The international banker had spent more than a month planning the meeting, exchanging messages with someone he believed was the girl’s grandmother, “Debbie”.
“Debbie” was in fact an undercover officer with Bedfordshire Police who had been communicating with Shy through an online forum and messaging apps.
During his communications, Shy described in detail disturbing acts he intended to perform on the child.
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The girl he intended to abuse did not exist and was part of an undercover operation by Bedfordshire Police
CPS
He told the undercover officer that age nine was a “tad late” to start sexual activity.
Shy said it would be an “honour” to be considered “her first” and expressed his willingness to travel to England to carry out the abuse.
The messages were sent through both an online forum and messaging apps, where he outlined his intentions explicitly.
The jury heard evidence that Shy also possessed indecent images of children on his phone, alongside messages discussing his sexual interest in children.
Lorraine Telford from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Rahamim Shy is a predator who was fully prepared to commit unspeakable acts against a child for his own sexual gratification.
“The fact the child in this case did not exist makes no difference, and it is a credit to the police operation and subsequent prosecution that Shy will no longer pose an immediate threat.”
The investigation uncovered evidence of indecent images of children stored on Shy’s mobile phone.
These were found alongside messages that revealed his sexual interest in children.
The defence initially argued that Shy should be exempt from UK prosecution as he had sent the messages while in the US.
This jurisdictional challenge was ultimately overruled by the court.
