Staff ReportsA former member of the Obama administration is now getting a frontline view of what happens in the slammer after he was found guilty of attempting to engage in unspeakable acts with a 9-year-old girl. Rahamim Shy, a 47-year-old former Senior Adviser on Pakistan and Afghanistan, has earned himself a 11-and-a-half-year vacation in prison—complete with free room and board, courtesy of the British taxpayer.
Shy’s adventure began in New Jersey, where he decided to take his revolting plans across the pond to Bedfordshire, England, in February 2024. After over a month of flirtatious correspondence with an undercover police officer posing as a grandmother, Shy was all set to meet his so-called “victim,” who tragically, was just a figment of his twisted imagination. Someone really should have told him that choices have consequences—especially for a self-proclaimed “international investment banker.”
Once he arrived in the U.K., undercover officers were more than ready to rain on his parade. Shy tried the age-old excuse of claiming the police didn’t have jurisdiction because he had sent messages from the States. Apparently, he thought crossing an ocean makes one immune to the law. The British courts set him straight, arguing that his plans to commit a crime in their jurisdiction made him very much their problem. Perhaps he should have brushed up on his legal knowledge before booking the flight over.
Ex-Obama Adviser Jailed as Pedophile, Took Stuffed Animals and Condoms to Meet Little Girl, 9 via @WestJournalism https://t.co/flcWzkXTSa
— Susan (@SusanHW) January 31, 2025
In the grand tradition of fantastic ideas gone wrong, Shy packed his luggage with not just the usual socks and underwear, but also stuffed animals and condoms—items that would later come back to haunt him in court. How these bizarre packing choices were meant to be covered as ‘normal traveler gear’ escapes all logic, but luckily, the court was unfooled and found him guilty of arranging a child sex offense, among other unspeakable charges.
As the prosecution noted, Shy’s explicit messages made it clear that he was a predator stalking his prey without a hint of remorse. The British legal system deserves a tip of the hat for ensuring that Shy, and others who think they can prey on children, get labeled as the monsters they really are. Thanks to a meticulous police operation, he won’t be a menace to society (or fictional children) for a while. As discussions about tougher penalties for crimes against children swirl, one can only hope this serves as a wake-up call for others who might think about engaging in similar vile acts.
