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 ("USPIS"). 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.
In May 2015, after a thorough review of the AZOV catalog, a Canadian court decided that 63 AZOV videos contain "child pornography" under Canadian law. [2] [3]
A list of all the English titles of the Azov Films known to date appears on the French Boywiki. [4]
UPDATE April 2016 - PHASE TWO of PROJECT SPADE HAS BEGUN. USPIS is now using the AZOV customer database to compile targets for a sting operation, sending e-mails to invite targets to download child pornography on USPIS-controlled undercover website. These defendants are listed under the sub-heading Phase Two Defendants below.
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 [5]
- 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 [6] Teacher of the Year 2011 [7]
- Richard Keller, M.D. of Andover, Massachusetts ---Court Complaint [13]
- USA v. Keller - U.S. District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:12-cr-10377-FDS-1 - PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 6.5 years partly non-AZOV [14]
- USA v. Keller - U.S. District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- William S. Thomas (Nurse) of Andover, Massachusetts --- News Article [15]
- PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 24 months [16]
- 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 [17]
- Gerald Deneault, 45, of Mansfield, Massachusetts ---News [20]
- USA v. Deneault - United States District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-cr-10032-PBS-1 - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 10 years (from PACER)
- DIED in prison 30 July 2014 [21]
- CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-cr-10032-PBS-1 - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 10 years (from PACER)
- USA v. Deneault - United States District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- Gerald Silva (State Probation Officer) of Coventry, Rhode Island ---News Article [22] --- Press Release + Complaint [23]
- MOTION TO DISMISS based on Unconstitutional Vagueness of Statute [24]
- USA v. Silva --- U.S. District Court - District of Rhode Island (Providence)- CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-cr-00043-S-LDA-1
- Sgt. Philip Woolery (Grapevine Police Department) of Crowley, Texas --- News Article + link to Complaint [31]---
- Harry Van Hopper of Tecumseh, Oklahoma --- News [34] --- Defense Attorney David Slane [35]
- PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 10 Years Prison and, upon release, 10 Years Probation [36]
- Gary Jefferson Byrd of Opelousas, Louisiana --- News Article [37] --- Arrested 9/24/2012 by US Postal Inspector Allyson Leigh Hoffine
- Joseph Finocchiaro of Bath, Maine --- Court Complaint Part 1 [41]--- Court Complaint Part 2 [42] --- News Article [43]
- Nicholas G. Sysock (High School Vice Principal) of Carteret, New Jersey --- News [50] --- News [51] --- Criminal Complaint [52]
- PLEADS GUILTY May 8, 2013 - Sentenced to 37 months [53]
- 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 [54] - [55] Re-indicted [56]
- DIED on August 1, 2014 [57]
- Josh Ensley (School Janitor) of Tucker, Georgia --- News Article + link to Complaint [58]
- Pleads GUILTY - Sentenced to 15 years partly on non-AZOV charges [59]
- 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 [60]
- Andrew W. Nielsen (Police Officer) of S. Windsor, Connecticut --- News [64][65]
- USA v. Nielsen - U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (New Haven)- CRIMINAL CASE #: 3:14-cr-00057-AVC-1 -
- Pleads GUILTY, Sentenced to 2 Years [66] - PURE AZOV case
- USA v. Nielsen - U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (New Haven)- CRIMINAL CASE #: 3:14-cr-00057-AVC-1 -
- Michael Winston Baynes (School employee) of Henrico, Virginia --- News [67]
- David S. Engle (Attorney involved in youth baseball) of Maple Valley, Washington --- News [70] --- Press Release [71]
- Lawrence Higgins of Seneca Falls, NY --- News [74] --- Press Release [75]
- USA v. Higgins --- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (Rochester)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 6:13-cr-06113-CJS - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 12.5 years [76]
- USA v. Higgins --- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (Rochester)
- Scott Studer (High School Coach) of Massillon, Ohio --- News [77] --- News [78]
- PLEADS GUILTY, but on tangential State charges (NOT AZOV-related) for Studer's secret videotaping of boys in the showers [79]
- Larry L. McLendon of Tupelo, Mississippi --- News [80]
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Mississippi - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-00095-SA-DAS-1
- Sentenced to 51 months on 27 December 2013 (from PACER)
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Mississippi - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-00095-SA-DAS-1
- Ryan Kasler (part-year Christian missionary in Romania) [85]
- PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 15 years [86]
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio (Columbus) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-00004-JLG-1
- Kris Katzenmeyer of Broomfield, Colorado --- Press Release [87] --- News [88]
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado (Denver)
- CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:12-cr-00509-REB-1 - Sentenced to 7 years in prison [89]
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado (Denver)
- Dr. Mark B. Shaffer Jr. (79-year-old physician) of Aurora, Ohio [90]
- PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges [91]
- Stanley Keith Johnson (Schools employee) of Mableton, Georgia [92][93][94]
- PLEADS GUILTY to non-AZOV porn - Sentenced to 15 years [95]
- 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 [96]
- 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)
- USA v. Lanier --- US District Court Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta)
- Robert L. Nouwen (Church deacon) of Mobile, Alabama
- Willard I. Jones of Bell County, Texas --- Criminal Complaint [101]
- PLEADS GUILTY [102] - 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 [103]
- PLEADS GUILTY - [104] - Sentenced to 48 Months, Restitution of $2,000. (from PACER)
- 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
- Louis N. Rosenfeld of Nashua, New Hampshire [115] - Sentenced to Community Supervision [116] - Pure AZOV case
- Brad W. McMullin (Nurse) of Fayetteville, Arkansas [117] - Sentenced to 4 years on 10/10/2013 [118] - Pure AZOV case
- Stephen Hickey (Teacher) of Warwick, Rhode Island [119] --- Criminal Complaint [120]
- PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 18 months in a Halfway House [121]
- 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 [122]
- USA v. Czukoski - United States District Court - Eastern District of PA (Philadelphia) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-00113-LDD-1
- Charles David Compton, 48, of Pikeville, Kentucky - Sentenced to 15 Years [123]
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Kentucky - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE # - 7:14-cr-00004-ART-EBA-1
- PLEA AGREEMENT (mentions specific AZOV films) [124]
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Kentucky - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE # - 7:14-cr-00004-ART-EBA-1
- Douglas Randolph Collins (Teacher) of Van Nuys, California [134]
- Clifford Eric Perian of Denver, Colorado [148]Court Complaint [149]
- PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges, Sentenced to 6 years, 10 months [150]
- USA v. Perian - U.S. District Court - District of Colorado (Denver) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-mj-01086-BNB-1
- Evan Guros of Seattle, Washington [151]
- William Shaffer of Birmingham, Michigan [152]
- PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 4 years - Court Judgment [153] - pure AZOV case -
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan (Detroit) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-20835-DML-MAR-1
- Jeffrey Lynn Hines of Adairville, Kentucky [162]
- Richard Dean Russell of New Holland, Pennsylvania [165]
- 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)
- USA v. Russell - United States District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Allentown)
- Charles Appel, clergyman and retired teacher, of Ben Avon, Pennsylvania [168]
- Clifton Brett Bennett of Colorado Springs, Colorado [171]
- 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 GUILTY on May 1, 2014, Sentenced to 57 months [172] - Pure AZOV case
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-00395-CMA-1 - Federal Public Defender David Edward Johnson
- USA v. Bennett - U.S. District Court - District of Colorado (Denver)
- Professor Walter Thomas Meyer of Des Moines, Iowa - PLEADS GUILTY - Pure AZOV case
- Sentenced to time served, 12 months of home confinement, and 5 years of supervised release. [173]
- USA v. Meyer - US District Court - Southern District of Iowa - CRIMINAL CASE #4:12-cr-00158-JEG-RAW-1
- Sentenced to time served, 12 months of home confinement, and 5 years of supervised release. [173]
- James Rick Mitchell (retired teacher) of San Diego, CA - SENTENCED to 7 years partly non-AZOV [174]
- Jesse Ryan Loskarn of Washington, DC (Senatorial Aide) [175] [176]Statement of Facts [177]
- USA v. Loskarn - U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
- CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-mj-00945-JMF-1 - Loskarn COMMITS SUICIDE [178]
- USA v. Loskarn - U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
- David Arthur Rohm (ex-teacher) of Memphis, TN - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 87 months - pure AZOV case [179]
- 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 [180] - "Let's Count the Lies" [181]
- PLEADS GUILTY -- Sentenced to 2 Months [182]
- USA v. Honebrink - U.S. District Court - District of Hawaii - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:14-cr-00049-LEK
- William Brickman of Flagstaff, Arizona - Sentenced to 8 Years [188] - Pure AZOV case
- David Charles Corkett, 52, former State Police Trooper, of Astoria, Oregon [189] - Pleads NOT GUILTY [190]
- Plea Bargained GUILTY to Misdemeanor - Sentenced to 2 Years Probation [191]
- John Lee Mudgett, 67, of Denver, Colorado [197] [198] Affidavit [199]
- USA v. Mudgett, US District Court of Colorado, CRIMINAL CASE # 1:14-mj-01081-MEH-1
- Defendant DIED on 3 September 2014 [200]
- USA v. Mudgett, US District Court of Colorado, CRIMINAL CASE # 1:14-mj-01081-MEH-1
- Jeffrey Schmutzler, 43, Teacher, of Fayetteville, PA - Sentenced to 9 Years [201]
- USA v. Schmutzler, US District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, CRIMINAL CASE # 1:13-cr-00065-WWC-1
- Timothy Beaver, 49, of Orlando, Florida - Sentenced to 78 months [204]
- USA v. Beaver - U.S. District Court - Middle District of Florida - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 6:13-cr-00302-RBD-TBS-1
- Dirk Hayo Notman, 76, of Clinton, Iowa [205] - Court Complaint [206]
- US DISTRICT COURT of Southern Iowa - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 3:14-cr-00065-SMR-SBJ-1
- PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 10 Years imprisonment; $3,000 in restitution; $15,000 fine (PACER)
- US DISTRICT COURT of Southern Iowa - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 3:14-cr-00065-SMR-SBJ-1
- Rodney Corbin, Jr., 54, of Hanover, Pennsylvania [207]
- PLEADS GUILTY, many non-AZOV images, Sentenced to 97 months [208]
- United States District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-cr-00205-SHR-1
- PLEADS GUILTY, many non-AZOV images, Sentenced to 97 months [208]
- Kenneth Nichelson, 56, Youth Soccer Coach, of Columbus, Georgia - PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 15 years based on a prior contact conviction [209]
- Court Complaint [210]
- Ronald Dane Jones, 69, of Odessa, Texas [211]
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas (Midland) CRIMINAL CASE #: 7:15-cr-00049-RAJ-1
- Complaint [212] - PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 15 Years and Restitution of $125,000.00 (PACER)
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas (Midland) CRIMINAL CASE #: 7:15-cr-00049-RAJ-1
- Donald Paul Ferrari, 77, of Tumwater, Washington - Pleads GUILTY, Sentencing set for 23 March 2015 [213]
- Lyle Kamlet, 62, Rabbi and ex-teacher, of Mt. Vernon, NY [214] Complaint [215]
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York - Criminal Case # - 7:15-cr-00750-KMK-1
- Pleads NOT GUILTY 11/2/2015 - Case Continued to 8 July 2016 (from PACER)
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York - Criminal Case # - 7:15-cr-00750-KMK-1
- Enrique Castaneda, Jr. of Wichita, Kansas - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 3 Years Probation - Pure AZOV case [216]
- Judge Melgren's Memorandum & Order after a preliminary review of some AZOV films in evidence [217]
- Derek M. Halverson, of Kirkland, Washington - PLEADS GUILTY, an AZOV "affiliate partner," Sentenced to 10 Years [218]
- Court Complaint [219]
- Patrick Carrick, 56, of Pittsburgh, PA [220][221][222][223] - Pleads GUILTY, Sentenced to 10 Years Probation + court costs [224]
- Robert Snyder, 67, teacher, of Etna, New York [225]
- Pleads NOT GUILTY, Trial set for 19 July 2016
- Thomas Kevin Hamel, 67, ex-teacher, of St. Ignace, Michigan - Pleads GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges [226]
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Michigan - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:15-cr-00011-RAED-1
- Sentenced to 15 Years [227]
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Michigan - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:15-cr-00011-RAED-1
- Jerry Lynn Roberts, Police Officer, 46, of Lumberton, Texas [228] PLEA BARGAIN - AZOV charges DROPPED; Pleads Guilty to Lying to a Federal Officer,
- Sentenced to 3 Years Probation (from PACER)
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:15-cr-00018-RC-ZJH-1
- Sentenced to 3 Years Probation (from PACER)
- Michael Mudd, 47, of Louisville, Kentucky [229] (PLEADS GUILTY to producing child porn, AZOV charges dropped - Sentenced to 30 Years)
- Court Complaint [230]
- Daniel Miguel Salinas, 33, of Weslaco, Texas [231][232] - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentencing set for 7 September 2016
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas (McAllen) CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 7:15-cr-01262-1
- Note - This case dates back to a 2012 search warrant but there was a LONG wait for forensic exam of computer and grand jury indictment
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas (McAllen) CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 7:15-cr-01262-1
Phase Two Defendants
- Robert Raymond Nelson, 66, of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan [238]
- Complaint [239]
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan - CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:16-mj-30149-PTM-1
- Complaint [239]
Updates
- State-rape - mortification of non-harming deviants - Kristofor argues Azov defendants have been "state-raped" - 27 Sept 2012 [240]
- Azov Films Legal Advice --- BoyChat posts [241] [242] [243] --- 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 [244]
- Spading Up Hate: Joanna Beaven-Desjardins’ Big Lie --- by Bernie Najarian 13 Dec 2013 - A look at Operation Spade [245]
- Pedophobe of the Year: Paul Krawczyk, Toronto Police --- by Bernie Najarian 1 Jan 2014 [246]
- Press Hostility to Azov Accuracy --- Another winning article by Bernie Najarian dated 14 Feb 2014 [247]
- Mick Moran of Interpol and Pro-active Pedo Policing --- by Bernie Najarian dated 24 Feb 2014 [248]
See also
- Many of those who were found guilty made simple--but serious--mistakes. If they had not made those mistakes, they would be free men today!
- BoyLover mistakes leading to arrest and conviction
External Links
- Honey Pot or Legit Site? --- BlackTurtle.us blog post dated February 7, 2010 [249] Accessed: 2012-11-03. (Archived by WebCite® at [250])
- Nude Art Controversies Blog [251]
- The Azov Films mass-state-rape: details of Dr. Richard Keller and other arrestees (a work in progress) [252]
- The Azov Films secret mass arrest conspiracy in the USA - when police secretly redefine law [253]
- Feds Bust Massive Child Pornography Corporation - apropos satire from The Onion! [254]