Indian Man Gets 35 Years in US Prison for Exploiting Children
A Shocking Crime Comes to Light
After serving his term in a federal prison, he will also have to undergo a lifetime term of supervised release.(Representational image)
An Indian man has been sentenced to 35 years in a US prison. His name is Sai Kumar Kurremula. He is 31 years old. He lived in Edmond, Oklahoma, on an immigrant visa. Kurremula did terrible things. He hurt kids online. He used a social media app to trick them. This news has stunned people in India, the USA, and beyond. It shows how dangerous the internet can be.
Kurremula pretended to be a teenager. He talked to kids on the app. He gained their trust. Then, he asked for explicit pictures. If they said no, he got mean. He threatened them. He said he’d show their photos to their families. Or post them online. This went on for months in 2023. The FBI caught him. Now, he’s paying the price.
This story matters to everyone. Especially young people. The internet is fun but risky. Parents and kids need to know the dangers. Let’s dive into what happened.
How the Crimes Happened
Kurremula was clever but cruel. He used a popular social media app. Many kids use it every day. He made a fake profile. He acted like he was their age. This made kids feel safe with him. At least 19 minors fell for it. Most were young girls.
First, he chatted with them. He was friendly. Then, he asked for pictures. Not just any pictures—private ones. Some kids sent them. They didn’t know better. When they stopped, he turned nasty. He said he’d ruin their lives. He’d tell their parents. Or share the images online. This scared them badly.
For example, one girl refused him. He didn’t stop. He kept pushing. He made her feel trapped. This wasn’t just a game. It was abuse. It hurt these kids deeply. Their trust was broken. The pain will stay with them for years.
Moreover, Kurremula didn’t just exploit kids. He also moved child pornography. That’s illegal everywhere. His actions broke laws in the US. They also shocked his home country, India.
The FBI Steps In
The FBI started looking into this in October 2023. They got tips about a weird social media account. It was doing bad things to girls. They traced it. The account’s internet address pointed to Kurremula’s home in Oklahoma.
Then, they found something big. They got messages from EncroChat. That’s a secret phone service. Criminals use it to hide. But in 2020, police from many countries broke its code. This helped the FBI a lot. They read thousands of Kurremula’s messages. He used the name “Starkcake.”
These messages were proof. They showed he tricked kids. They also showed he dealt drugs. He brought cocaine from Brazil and the Netherlands. But the main focus was the kids. The FBI worked hard. They gathered evidence. They talked to victims. Finally, they arrested him.
This wasn’t easy. Criminals like Kurremula hide well. However, teamwork across countries paid off. The EncroChat bust was a game-changer. It’s helping catch bad guys worldwide.
The Courtroom
In April 2025, Kurremula faced justice. He admitted his crimes. He said yes to exploiting three kids. He also said yes to moving child pornography. The court was in the US. US District Judge Charles Goodwin was in charge.
The judge was tough. He said these crimes are the worst kind. Kids are helpless. They need protection. Kurremula hurt them instead. The judge spoke to him directly. “You caused trauma,” he said. “It will last their whole lives.” He gave Kurremula 35 years in prison. That’s 420 months. After that, he’ll be watched for life.
US Attorney Robert J. Troester agreed. “This is a warning,” he said. “If you hurt kids, you’ll pay big.” The FBI’s Doug Goodwater was mad too. He called the harm “unthinkable.” Kurremula stole the kids’ innocence. The sentence shows how serious this is.
Heading 5: The Victims’ Pain
The kids Kurremula hurt are suffering. Exploitation does bad things to people. It messes with their minds. They feel sad. They get scared easily. Some have PTSD. That’s a disorder from trauma. It makes life hard.
For instance, imagine trusting someone. Then they betray you. That’s what these kids went through. They thought Kurremula was a friend. He wasn’t. Now, they struggle to trust anyone. It affects school. It affects friends. It affects everything.
Support is key. Groups like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) help. They give therapy. They offer advice. But healing takes time. Families hurt too. Parents feel guilty. They wonder how this happened.
Laws That Protect Kids
The US has strong rules against this. The PROTECT Act of 2003 is one. It makes penalties harsh. If you make or share child pornography, you’re in trouble. Sentences can be 5 to 20 years. Kurremula got more because he did so much.
In addition, the law helps police. They can track criminals better. They can work with other countries. This stops people like Kurremula. India has laws too. But cases there are rising. In 2023, India reported over 3,000 child pornography crimes. It’s a global problem.
Here’s a quick look at US penalties:
| Crime | Minimum Sentence | Maximum Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Making Child Pornography | 15 years | 30 years |
| Sharing Child Pornography | 5 years | 20 years |
| Having Child Pornography | 0 years | 10 years |
Kurremula’s 35 years shows how bad his case was. Multiple kids. Threats. Extortion. The law hit him hard.
Other Cases Like This
This isn’t the only story. In 2023, a teacher in California got 25 years. He did similar things. He used apps to trick kids. Another case was in Texas. A man got 30 years. These stories keep happening.
Why? The internet makes it easy. Predators hide online. They find kids fast. Social media apps are everywhere. Kids love them. But danger lurks. That’s why awareness matters.
For example, in India, cases jumped 10% from 2022 to 2023. In the US, the FBI handles thousands of tips yearly. Here’s a graph:
Year | US Child Exploitation Cases | India Child Pornography Cases
--------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------
2021 | 25,000 | 2,500
2022 | 27,000 | 2,800
2023 | 29,000 | 3,200Numbers are rising. Action is urgent.
Stopping This Madness
We can fight back. Parents must talk to kids. Teach them about strangers online. Say no to weird requests. Report creepy people fast. Schools can help too. Add safety lessons.
Social media apps need to step up. They can watch for bad behavior. They can ban fake accounts. Some do this already. But not enough. Kids need better protection.
Also, police are key. The FBI and others catch predators. Countries working together helps. The EncroChat takedown proved it. We need more of that.
Here’s what you can do:
- Check your kids’ apps. See who they talk to.
- Teach them safety. Say no to strangers.
- Report trouble. Tell police or apps.
Together, we can make the internet safer.
Why This Matters Globally
This case hits home in India and the USA. But it’s bigger. Kids everywhere use the internet. Predators don’t care about borders. In Europe, Asia, Africa—same problem. Australia had 15,000 cases in 2023. South America is rising too.
Kurremula’s story is a wake-up call. Youth need to know. In India, millions are online. In the US, it’s the same. Phones are in every hand. That’s why AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW) is sharing this. We want traffic from all continents. Especially India and the USA.
For more facts, check this external link. It’s from the US Department of Justice. It explains the laws.
What’s Next?
Kurremula is in jail now. But the fight isn’t over. More predators are out there. Kids need us. Parents, teachers, police—everyone. This case shows the stakes. It’s about safety. It’s about trust.
At AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW), we’ll keep reporting. This story isn’t just news. It’s a lesson. Share it with friends. Talk about it. Especially if you’re young. The internet is great. But it’s risky too.
Let’s end with this: Kurremula hurt 19 kids. Maybe more. His 35 years in prison is justice. But the real win is stopping the next guy. That’s up to all of us.