A former Tufts Medical Center doctor will spend a decade in prison for attempting to have sex with a child.
U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley sentenced Sadeq Ali Quraishi, 47, on Tuesday to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on a charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child, for which he was convicted in October 2024.
“Hey you’ve been super nice and I appreciate it … just the age thing is throwing me … if you were to tell me she’s 16 or older and just looks young enough to pass off for 14 that would be a different thing,” Quraishi texted the law enforcement officer who had advertised girls for sex in the Boston and Lowell area.
That’s from the Homeland Security Investigations agent’s affidavit supporting the criminal charges. The investigation began, according to the affidavit, when agents posted an ad on a website that featured photos of what appeared to be two girls with copy beginning this way:
“I AM A WOMAN seeking men… Travelin thru town on a lil roadtrip!”
Apparently Quraishi’s interest was piqued and even though the ad said the sex worker would be 18 years old, once he got in contact he was quickly informed the girls were 12 and 14 years old.
Instead of backing away, he asked, “Uh … you a cop?” and once told that the madame — the agent pretending to be the girls’ mom — was not a cop said, “Cool I appreciate that.”
It would be $250 for an hour of what he wanted. Then he had second thoughts about his “fantasies,” which now “seems a little over the top.”
“I’m all about having fun but this would just add an extra layer of guilt I defiantly don’t need. Take care and be safe,” he texted.
But with the gentlest of prodding, Quraishi relented: “Ok I’m on my way.”
He arrived at the unidentified hotel in Waltham, which is a branch of “a national chain of hotels,” and according to the affidavit, he flashed a wad of cash, handed it over and was arrested. He later allegedly admitted to law enforcement that he had paid for sex before.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. Quraishi’s heinous actions and underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation,” U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who fuel the market for child sex trafficking and hold them accountable for their crimes. This sentence reflects our dedication to identifying those who prey on our most vulnerable and holding them accountable for their inhumane acts.”
