Former Tampa Mosque Youth Leader Accused Of Sexually Abusing Boys

PINELLAS PARK, FL — The former youth director of the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay has been arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting young boys in his charge.

On Aug. 28, Ehab Ghoneim, 51, of Applewood Terrace in Pinellas Park, was charged with three counts of unlawful sexual activity with minors.

Ghoneim was extradited from Chicago to Pinellas County where federal agents arrested him after he returned from a trip to Egypt.

Pinellas Park police said Ghoneim met the victims, all young boys, at the mosque on East Sligh Avenue in Tampa where he gained their trust as a spiritual leader. He's accused of molesting the children after hosting sleepovers at his home and offering the children pills to help them sleep, according to the complaint.

He's charged with three counts of unlawful sexual activity with minors but police said there may be more victims. Ghoneim is being held on $450,000 at the Pinellas County Jail.