Former Bush Hill Teacher's Aide Indicted In Child Sex Sting

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A federal grand jury charged a former teacher's aide at Bush Hill Elementary School Thursday for alleged child sexual exploitation. The indictment charges Monis Irfan, 21, of Springfield with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and receipt, distribution, possession, and transportation of child pornography.

The case was brought to an FBI task force after an undercover Fairfax County detective found Irfan on a social networking site. Police say Irfan offered to meet the detective and provide sexually explicit images of children. In return, Irfan believed he would meet a minor to have sex. The detective arrested Irfan at their meeting.

The jury's indictment also alleges that Irfan traded, transported and kept child pornography through his phone and laptop in 2018 and 2019. According to court documents, he had sexually explicit videos of minors in a folder on his computer.

The attempted coercion and enticement of a minor carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. The receipt, distribution, and transportation of child pornography charges have a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 20 years on each count.

Irfan previously worked as an instructional assistant and substitute teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. He was suspended from the job.