Azov Films Prosecutions

Background

Azov Films was based in Toronto, Canada, and specialized in selling naturist visual material mostly featuring boys participating in nudist gym and camp sports. The films were apparently produced in Eastern Europe. The legality of the material differed from country to country, but was widely believed to be well established in the major market, the U.S.A., which has historically tolerated depictions of underage nudity provided there is no sexual content.

However, the company's website (www.azovfilms.com) closed on or about May 1, 2011, as a result of an international police operation dubbed Project Spade or Operation Spade according to US and Canadian authorities. These authorities have obtained business records from Azov Films including customer e-mail and postal mail addresses and transaction receipts with customer credit card information.

Starting in 2012, some customers of Azov Films have been arrested and charged with receipt and possession of child pornography: some of the nude visual material has been construed as illegal by Law Enforcement Officers ("LEO's"), including agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service. US Postal Inspector Jeff Adkins, in an Affidavit dated 10/25/2012, states that 160 movies out of the approximately 600 available on the Company website have been "categorized as containing child pornography." [1] However, no list of those 160 titles has been made available to the public.

A list of all the English titles of the Azov Films known to date appears on the French Boywiki. [2]

Defendants

(This may be an incomplete list. All of these individuals should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Azov Films is not yet explicitly cited in the official documentation of some of these cases, but there is strong circumstantial evidence that the alleged pornographic material was their product.)

For Canadian prosecutions go to Azov Films Prosecutions - Canada

For U.K. prosecutions go to Azov Films Prosecutions - United Kingdom

U.S.A.

• Jonathan D. Kendall (Police Officer) of Harrington, Delaware - News item mentions AZOV Films [3]
  • SENTENCED to Community Supervision until May 2014 (from online State of Delaware resources)

• Joseph Monroe Wilson (Teacher) of Dallas, Georgia, now of Spartanburg, South Carolina --- Press Release [4] Teacher of the Year 2011 [5]
  • USA v. Wilson - U.S. District Court --- Northern District of Georgia (Rome)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 4:12-cr-00023-RLV-WEJ-1

    Motion to Suppress [6]--- Motion To Order Gov't...[7] - Transcript 1/29/2013 HEARING [8]

    PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 3 years [9] - Sentencing Update [10]

• Richard Keller, M.D. of Andover, Massachusetts ---Court Complaint [11]
  • USA v. Keller - U.S. District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:12-cr-10377-FDS-1 - PLEADS GUILTY - Sentencing set for 27 Feb 2014 [12]

• William S. Thomas (Nurse) of Andover, Massachusetts --- News Article [13]
  • PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 24 months [14]
  • USA v. Thomas - U.S. District Court - District of Massachusetts (Boston)- CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-cr-10002-PBS-1

• Edward F. Cousens of Holbrook, Massachusetts --- News [15]
  • Defendant DIED of Natural Causes on January 27, 2013 - [16](Death Verified on PACER) [17]
  • USA v. Cousens - U.S. District Court - District of Massachusetts (Boston) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:12-mj-07215-JCB-1

• Gerald Deneault of Mansfield, Massachusetts ---News [18]
  • USA v. Deneault - United States District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)

    CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-cr-10032-PBS-1 - PLEADS GUILTY, sentencing set for 24 March 2014

• Gerald Silva (State Probation Officer) of Coventry, Rhode Island ---News Article [19] --- Press Release + Complaint [20]
  • MOTION TO DISMISS based on Unconstitutional Vagueness of Statute [21]
  • USA v. Silva --- U.S. District Court - District of Rhode Island (Providence)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-00043-S-LDA-1 - Defense Attorney Robert B. Mann [22]

    CONVICTED BY JURY 10 Feb 2014 [23]

• Sgt. Philip Woolery (Grapevine Police Department) of Crowley, Texas --- News Article + link to Complaint [24]---
  • PLEADS GUILTY to tangential NON-AZOV charges [25] Sentenced to 15 years [26]

• Harry Hopper of Tecumseh, Oklahoma --- News [27] --- Defense Attorney David Slane [28]

• Gary Jefferson Byrd of Opelousas, Louisiana --- News Article [29] --- Arrested 9/24/2012 by US Postal Inspector Allyson Leigh Hoffine
  • USA v. Byrd - U.S. District Court --- Western District of Louisiana (Lafayette)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 6:12-cr-00274-EEF-CMH-1

    FOUND GUILTY on all counts by Jury [30] THIS IS A PURE AZOV CASE - Sentencing set for 11 April 2014

• Joseph Finocchiaro of Bath, Maine --- Court Complaint Part 1 [31]--- Court Complaint Part 2 [32] --- News Article [33]
  • PLEADS GUILTY to tangential NON-AZOV charges on February 6, 2013 [34]

    SENTENCED to 21 months in Prison [35]

• Loyd Jeffrey Hitt of Center Point, Alabama --- News [36] [37]
  • PLEADS GUILTY February 2013 [38]
  • Sentenced to 97 months in Prison [39]

• Nicholas G. Sysock (High School Vice Principal) of Carteret, New Jersey --- News [40] --- News [41] --- Criminal Complaint [42]
  • PLEADS GUILTY May 8, 2013 - Sentenced to 37 months [43]
  • USA v. Sysock - U.S. District Court - District of New Jersey (Newark) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:12-mj-03197-PS-1

• John Charles Mason (Youth Services Counselor) of Conroe, Texas --- News [44] --- News Article [45]

• Josh Ensley (School Janitor) of Tucker, Georgia --- News Article + link to Complaint [46]
  • Pleads GUILTY - Sentenced to 15 years partly on non-AZOV charges [47]
  • USA v. Ensley - U.S. District Court - Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:12-cr-00385-CAP-JFK-1

• William Villemez (Teacher) of Smyrna, Georgia --- News [48]
  • PLEADS GUILTY to Count 2 on April 19, 2013 [49]

    FOUND GUILTY on Count 1, Sentenced to 5 years [50] Note: THIS IS A PURE AZOV CASE [51]

  • USA v. Villemez - U.S. District Court - Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta) - CRIMINAL CASE #:1:12-cr-00392-CAP-GGB-1

• Andrew W. Nielsen (Police Officer) of S. Windsor, Connecticut --- News [52][53]
  • USA v. Nielsen - U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (New Haven)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 3:12-mj-00273-TPS-1

    Intends to PLEAD GUILTY on 25 March 2014 (from PACER Docket)

• Michael Winston Baynes (School employee) of Henrico, Virginia --- News [54]
  • PLEADS GUILTY on January 4, 2013 [55]
  • SENTENCED to PRISON for 5 years 10 months [56]

• David S. Engle (Attorney involved in youth baseball) of Maple Valley, Washington --- News [57] --- Press Release [58]
  • Amended Criminal Complaint [59]
  • PLEADS GUILTY to tangential NON-AZOV charges, sentenced to 25 years [60]
  • USA v. Engle - US District Court for the Western District of Washington (Seattle) - CRIMINAL CASE #:2:12-cr-00366-JLR-1

• Lawrence Higgins of Seneca Falls, NY --- News [61] --- Press Release [62]
  • USA v. Higgins --- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (Rochester)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 6:13-cr-06113-CJS - PLEADS GUILTY, SENTENCING set for February 7, 2014 [63]

• Scott Studer (High School Coach) of Massillon, Ohio --- News [64] --- News [65]
  • PLEADS GUILTY, but on tangential State charges (NOT AZOV-related) for Studer's secret videotaping of boys in the showers [66]

• Larry McClendon of Tupelo, Mississippi --- News [67]
  • PLEADS GUILTY [68]

• Ryan C. Bieler (former Boy Scouts executive) of Ireland, Indiana [69] --- Court Complaint [70]
  • PLEADS GUILTY MARCH 12, 2013 [71] SENTENCED to SIX YEARS [72]
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana (Evansville) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 3:12-mj-00087-WGH-1

• Ryan Kasler (part-year Christian missionary in Romania) [73]
  • PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 15 years [74]
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio (Columbus) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-00004-JLG-1

• Kris Katzenmeyer of Broomfield, Colorado --- Press Release [75] --- News [76]
  • U.S. District Court District of Colorado (Denver)

    CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:12-cr-00509-REB-1 - Sentenced to 7 years in prison [77]

• Dr. Mark B. Shaffer Jr. (79-year-old physician) of Aurora, Ohio [78]
  • PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges [79]

• Stanley Keith Johnson (Schools employee) of Mableton, Georgia [80][81][82]
  • PLEADS GUILTY to non-AZOV porn - Sentenced to 15 years [83]
  • USA v. Johnson - US District Court Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta) - CRIMINAL CASE # - 1:13-cr-00013-SCJ-ECS-1

• Jerry Michael Lanier (Music teacher) of Smyrna, Georgia [84]
  • USA v. Lanier --- US District Court Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE # - 1:13-cr-00012-ODE-AJB-1 - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 2 years (from PACER)

• Robert L. Nouwen (Church deacon) of Mobile, Alabama
  • PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced May 20, 2013 [85]
  • news report that mentions azovfilms.com [86] (Archived by WebCite® at [87])

• Willard I. Jones of Bell County, Texas --- Criminal Complaint [88]
  • PLEADS GUILTY [89] - Sentenced to 78 months (from PACER docket)
  • USA v. Jones - U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas (Waco) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 6:12-cr-00262-WSS-1

• James Donald Mobley (Teacher & Boy Scout volunteer) of Tenino, Washington [90]
  • PLEADS GUILTY - Sentencing set for 21 March 2014 [91]
  • USA v. Mobley - US District Court Western District of Washington (Tacoma) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 3:13-cr-05407-RBL-1

• James Douglas Manring (Teacher) of Fredericksburg, Virginia
  • PLEADS GUILTY to tangential NON-AZOV charges on January 28, 2013 [92][93]

    SENTENCED to 14 Years in Prison [94]

• Daryl James Robertson (Teacher) of Eliot, Maine [95][96][97]
  • Died on August 11, 2013 [98]
  • Obituary [99][100]
  • Defense Attorney Alan J. Cronheim of Sisti Law Offices[101]

• Louis Rosenfeld of Nashua, New Hampshire [102]

• Brad McMullin (Nurse) of Fayetteville, Arkansas [103]

• Stephen Hickey (Teacher) of Warwick, Rhode Island [104] --- Criminal Complaint [105]
  • PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 18 months in a Halfway House [106]
  • USA v. Hickey - United States District Court - District of Rhode Island - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-mj-00069-LDA-1

• Troy Czukoski (Middle School Principal) of Media, Pennsylvania
  • PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 2 years [107]
  • USA v. Czukoski - United States District Court - Eastern District of PA (Philadelphia) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-00113-LDD-1

• Charles Compton of Pikeville, Kentucky [108]

• Stuart Forrest (Former San Mateo County Probation Chief) of San Mateo, California [109] [110]
  • TRIAL DATE: JULY 15, 2013 [111]- Trial News [112] [113] [114]

    FOUND GUILTY partly based on non-AZOV porn ?? [115] Sentenced to 10 months [116][117]

• Douglas Randolph Collins (Teacher) of Van Nuys, California [118]
  • PLEA BARGAIN to MISDEMEANOR [119] [120]

• Mark Beres (Optometrist) of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania [121]
  • PLEADS NOT GUILTY
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:13-cr-00151-JFC-1

    Defense Attorney: Jay J. Finkelstein - Federal Public Defender's Office

• Thomas Hamel (Teacher & Athletic Trainer) of St. Ignace, Michigan [122]

• Jorge A. Roman (Teacher & Soccer Coach) of Princeton, New Jersey [123] [124]
  • News article which mentions AZOV Films [125]
  • Background [126] [127] [128]

    USA v. Roman - US District Court - District of New Jersey (Trenton) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 3:13-mj-05043-TJB-1

    Defense Attorney: LISA J. VAN HOECK - Federal Public Defender's Office

    Case Continued Until 1 April 2014 (from PACER)

• Clifford Eric Perian of Denver, Colorado [129]Court Complaint [130]
  • PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges, Sentenced to 6 years, 10 months [131]
  • USA v. Perian - U.S. District Court - District of Colorado (Denver) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-mj-01086-BNB-1

• Evan Guros of Seattle, Washington [132]

• William Shaffer of Birmingham, Michigan [133]
  • PLEADS GUILTY - Sentencing set for 7 May 2014
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan (Detroit) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-20835-DML-MAR-1

• Bruce O. Downsbrough of Knoxville, Tennessee [134] Search Warrant Affidavit [135]
  • USA v. Downsbrough - U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee (Knoxville) - CRIMINAL CASE#:3:13-cr-00061-1

    PLEA BARGAIN GUILTY [136]

• Stanton Hager of Beverly, Massachusetts [137] Affidavit [138]
  • USA v. Hager - United States District Court - District of Massachusetts (Boston)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-10335-RWZ-1

    PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges. Sentencing set for 9 April 2014 [139]

• Jeffrey Lynn Hines of Adairville, Kentucky [140]
  • PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges [141]
  • USA v. Hines - US District Court - Western District of Kentucky - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-cr-00032-TBR-1

• Richard Dean Russell of New Holland, Pennsylvania [142]
  • USA v. Russell - United States District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Allentown)

    CRIMINAL CASE #: 5:13-cr-00401-JLS-1 - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 37 months AND $5,000.00 RESTITUTION (from PACER)

• Gerald Burnham of Adolphus, Kentucky - PLEADS GUILTY [143]

• Charles Appel of Ben Avon, Pennsylvania [144]
  • USA v. Appel - United States District Court - Western District of Pennsylvania

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:13-cr-00251-JFC-1 - Defense Attorney Alexander H. Lindsay, Jr. [145]

    PLEADS GUILTY, Sentencing set for 3/28/2014 (from PACER)

• Clifton Brett Bennett of Colorado Springs, Colorado [146]
  • USA v. Bennett - U.S. District Court - District of Colorado (Denver)

    CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-00395-CMA-1 - Federal Public Defender David Edward Johnson

    PLEADS NOT GUILTY, 4-day Jury Trial set for 17 March 2014 (from PACER)

• Professor Walter Thomas Meyer of Des Moines, Iowa [147]

• James Rick Mitchell (retired teacher) of San Diego, CA - Sentenced to 7 years partly non-AZOV [148]

• Jesse Ryan Loskarn of Washington, DC (Senatorial Aide) [149] [150]Statement of Facts [151]
  • USA v. Loskarn - U.S. District Court - District of Columbia

    CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-mj-00945-JMF-1 - Loskarn COMMITS SUICIDE [152]

• David Arthur Rohm (ex-teacher) of Memphis, TN - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 87 months - pure AZOV case [153]
  • USA v. Rohm - U.S. District Court - Western District of Tennessee - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-20146-STA-1

• Randy Honebrink (shark expert) of Honolulu, Hawaii [154] - "Let's Count the Lies" [155]
  • PLEADS GUILTY -- Sentencing set for 19 May 2014 (from PACER) [156]
  • USA v. Honebrink - U.S. District Court - District of Hawaii - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:14-cr-00049-LEK

    Defense Attorney William A. Harrison [157]

Updates

• Azov Films Legal Advice --- BoyChat posts [158] [159] [160] --- An anonymous BoyChat poster discusses the advice he received from three attorneys. This is for informational purposes only and should NOT replace a personal consultation with your own attorney!

• Exploring Truths Behind Recent Azov Films Arrests --- BoyChat post dated December 7, 2012 [161]

• Spading Up Hate: Joanna Beaven-Desjardins’ Big Lie --- BoyChat post dated December 13, 2013 [162] --- An excellent, comprehensive look at Operation Spade

• Pedophobe of the Year: Paul Krawczyk, Toronto Police --- BoyChat post dated January 1, 2014 [163]

• Press Hostility to Azov Accuracy --- Another winning article by Bernie Najarian dated 14 Feb 2014 [164]

• Mick Moran of Interpol and Pro-active Pedo Policing --- by Bernie Najarian [165]

External Links

• Honey Pot or Legit Site? --- BlackTurtle.us blog post dated February 7, 2010 [166] Accessed: 2012-11-03. (Archived by WebCite® at [167])

• Nude Art Controversies Blog [168]

• The Azov Films mass-state-rape: details of Dr. Richard Keller and other arrestees (a work in progress) [169]

• Journalism Hall of Shame --- [170] "This Hall of Shame is dedicated to journalists guilty of notable professional shortcomings in their reporting on the arrests of men who purchased naturist materials they believed to be legal from the company called Azov Films."

• The Azov Films secret mass arrest conspiracy in the USA - when police secretly redefine law [171]