FIFA match promoter arrested in Galveston on child porn materials, U.S. Attorney's Office says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A match promoter with FIFA has been taken into custody and charged with transportation of child pornography, according to the United States Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas.

Ali Homoud Alnaimi, 42, is a representative of the Qatar football team and was arrested in Galveston after returning from a cruise to Mexico.

On July 29 at the detention hearing, the court heard there were images found on Alnaimi's phone of young boys under the age of five being sexually exploited. It is alleged that after his arrest, officers also found videos allegedly depicting child pornography. On July 31, he was ordered by the court to remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.

The USAO website said he arrived in the U.S. with the inappropriate material before traveling to several states and then taking the cruise.

Officials said ICE Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection.

If he is convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, officials said.