Mohamed Kamal Mesregah, a former doctor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, was arrested in Florida following a sting operation that focused on child predators.
Mesregah, 38, and five others were charged on November 13 during a child predator investigation, according to Florida’s Attorney General.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier explained the investigation involved numerous departments and agencies, in which agents posed as underage teens online in an attempt to find potential predators.
All of the six suspects were told they were speaking to a 14-year-old mami, though they allegedly engaged in sexually explicit and harmful communications with the officers in disguise.
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Uthmeier said that all of the suspects made plans to meet with the fake teen for sexual activity, though they were actually met by police officers that arrested them upon arrival.
Following his arrest, a UPMC Spokesperson confirmed that Mesregah was previously employed at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, according to WTAJ.
Mesregah, who is originally from Egypt, worked as a research fellow for four months before he was terminated from the role on October 31. The spokesperson also stated that he didn’t have contact with any patients during his time at UPMC.
“UPMC remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and well-being of our patients, their families, and the communities we serve,” the spokesperson said, per the outlet.
Additionally, Uthmeier noted that several of those arrested in link to the sting are currently on ICE detainers.
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“These predators believed that they could hide behind a screen to exploit our children—they were wrong,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “Several of these defendants are today on ICE detainers and will face prison before deportation. We will never stop protecting kids in Florida; those who target them will be caught and punished.”
Following the arrests, the cases are today being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the State Attorney’s Office for the 19th Judicial Circuit and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek also issued a statement about the success of the mission to track down child predators. “This operation is a powerful example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal partners come together with one shared mission—to protect our children,” he said. “These arrests should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can prey on children in our communities. We will find you, we will arrest you and we will hold you accountable.”
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