WHEELING, WV—The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service are leading the continued effort to locate convicted sex offender Mustafa Bazbaz who absconded earlier this month, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.

Leveraging their investigative resources and following all credible leads, the FBI and U.S. Marshals are doing everything they can to locate Bazbaz, 28, of Pittsburgh, who was under electronic monitoring in Western Pennsylvania pending sentencing when he was granted permission to leave his home to attend a worship session. He failed to return, prompting the current manhunt.

Bazbaz pled guilty in August 2014 to charges that he travelled across states lines to a Hancock County, West Virginia hotel in December 2013 and engaged in sexual conduct with a 15-year old female from Jefferson County, Ohio.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bazbaz is encouraged to contact Chad Simpson at the United States Marshals Service at 304-218-9286 or the FBI at 412-432-4000. Callers can remain anonymous.