A well-known adult film star known as "Austin Wolf" is accused of sending and receiving at least 200 videos of child pornography, including one of a 10-year-old boy being bound and raped.
The actor, whose real name is Justin Heath Smith, was arrested following charges filed by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams and the FBI on Friday.
Authorities said Smith, 43, used a Telegram account to exchange the pornography with another user, which they later found stored on a memory card at his New York City apartment.
Smith, who has over 947,500 followers on X, where he distributes much of his adult film material, is charged with two alleged offenses: one count of distribution and receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
The first charge relates to activity over just four days, between March 24 and 28, during which time Smith allegedly sent and received hundreds of videos and images containing child pornography though an anonymous Telegram account.
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Authorities were first alerted to the actor after seizing the other user's phone and linking the activity to him.
The main example laid out in the criminal complaint against Smith is a video of a boy.
"The video shows a child of approximately 10 years old bound, beaten, and raped by an adult man," the complaint read.
After seizing the phone belonging to the other user – known as "Target Telegram User-1" in the complaint – an FBI agent used their account to message the account believed to belong to Smith on April 18.
The agent and Smith discussed the latter's travels, with the agent saying: "The wolf never rests!" in reference to Smith's stage name. The anonymous user replied with a winky face, suggesting they understood the joke.
Agents then searched his Manhattan apartment on April 21, and seized the adult film star's phone.
The agent used Target Telegram User-1's phone to send another message and the notification appeared on Smith's phone.
Also during the search, the SD card containing child pornography was discovered, also containing images of Smith, the FBI said.
"I want to make it clear: those who distribute child sexual abuse images prey upon the most vulnerable in our society," FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said in a press release.
"Each image is a crime scene, leaving lasting scars on innocent victims."
If convicted, Smith faces up to 30 years in jail across both offences.
U.S. Attorney Williams said the investigation into Smith was ongoing and urged anyone with further information to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
https://www.newsweek.com/austin-wolf-justin-arrested-child-pornography-1918968
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