Azov Films Prosecutions
Background
Azov Films was based in Toronto, Canada, and specialized in selling barely-legal 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, apparently as a result of a police raid according to some US authorities, although there is no corroboration of this from Canadian authorities or the Canadian press. These same US 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 US 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 US Law Enforcement Officers ("LEO's"), including agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service. So far, all of the prosecutions are based on receipt by postal mail of Azov DVDs. 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 addition, the Company name AZOV has been redacted from every public filing made by LEO's.
A list of all the English titles of the Azov Films known to date appears on the French Boywiki. [2]
UPDATE: We learned of the first likely Azov-related arrest of a CANADIAN customer (Nova Scotia). However, still no news from Toronto on what happened to the personnel of Azov. Were they charged for producing and distributing child pornography as alleged by some US authorities? Or did they cooperate with LEO's and escape prosecution? Many questions remain unanswered.
By letter dated January 16, 2013, the Toronto Police Service ("TPS") declined to release any information at all about the Azov matter, and for the first time claimed that TPS is investigating a "murder" in conjunction with this case. [3]
NOTE: LEO's sometimes dub their AZOV campaign Project Spade or Operation Spade.
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.)
Canada
- Edward Rutherford (long-time sponsor of junior sports) of North Bay, Ontario
- PLEADED GUILTY on June 5, 2012 [4]
- Bruce Edward Karlenzig (employed by an "educational organization") of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- PLEADED GUILTY on January 23, 2013 [5]
- Presently Unidentified 42-year-old man of Clarke's Beach, Newfoundland [11]
- Case Postponed until June 4, 2013 [12]
Spain
- 28 arrested in Spain [13]
- Presently Unidentified 72-year-old British resident of Cartagena, Spain arrested April 2, 2013 [14]
U.S.A.
- Jonathan D. Kendall (Police Officer) of Harrington, Delaware - News item mentions AZOV Films [15]
- 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 [16] Teacher of the Year 2011 [17]
- USA v. Wilson
- Richard Keller, M.D. of Andover, Massachusetts ---Court Complaint [22]
- William S. Thomas (Nurse) of Andover, Massachusetts --- News Article [25]
- Edward F. Cousens of Holbrook, Massachusetts --- News [28]
- Gerald Deneault of Mansfield, Massachusetts ---News [31]
- USA v. Deneault
- United States District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-10032-PBS-1
- Defense Attorney Stylianus Sinnis -- Federal Public Defender Office - District of Massachusetts
- PLEADS GUILTY, sentencing set for January 23, 2014 [32]
- USA v. Deneault
- Gerald Silva (State Probation Officer) of Coventry, Rhode Island ---News Article [33] --- Press Release + Complaint [34]
- USA v. Silva
- U.S. District Court --- District of Rhode Island (Providence)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:12-mj-00284-LDA-1
- Defense Attorney Robert B. Mann [35]
- USA v. Silva
- Sgt. Philip Woolery (Grapevine Police Department) of Crowley, Texas --- News Article + link to Complaint [36]---
- Gary Jefferson Byrd of Opelousas, Louisiana --- News Article [41] --- 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
- Court-Appointed (CJA) Defense Attorney Randal P McCann --- Email: rpm@rpmlawfirm.com
- FOUND GUILTY on all counts by Jury [42] THIS IS A PURE AZOV CASE
- USA v. Byrd
- Joseph Finocchiaro of Bath, Maine --- Court Complaint Part 1 [43]--- Court Complaint Part 2 [44] --- News Article [45]
- Nicholas G. Sysock (High School Vice Principal) of Carteret, New Jersey --- News [52] --- News [53] --- Criminal Complaint [54]
- PLEADS GUILTY May 8, 2013 - Sentenced to 37 months [55]
- USA v. Sysock
- U.S. District Court --- District of New Jersey (Newark)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:12-mj-03197-PS-1
- 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 DOCKET 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 DOCKET CASE #: 3:12-mj-00273-TPS-1
- Defense Attorney --- Ryan McGuigan --- Rome McGuigan, P.C. --- One State Street 13th Floor ---
- Hartford, CT 06103 --- Tel. 860-549-1000 Fax: 860-724-3921 --- Email: rmcguigan@rms-law.com
- PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING set for December 10, 2013 (from PACER Docket)
- USA v. Nielsen
- Michael Winston Baynes (School employee) of Henrico, Virginia --- News [66]
- David S. Engle (Attorney involved in youth baseball) of Maple Valley, Washington --- News [69] --- Press Release [70]
- Lawrence Higgins of Seneca Falls, NY --- News [73] --- Press Release [74]
- USA v. Higgins --- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (Rochester)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 6:12-mj-00666-JWF-1
- Defense Attorney Jeffrey L. Ciccone - Federal Public Defender
- PLEADS GUILTY, SENTENCING set for November 25, 2013 [75]
- USA v. Higgins --- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (Rochester)
- Scott Studer (High School Coach) of Massillon, Ohio --- News [76] --- News [77]
- PLEADS GUILTY, but on tangential State charges (NOT AZOV-related) for Studer's secret videotaping of boys in the showers [78]
- 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 DOCKET 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 DOCKET CASE #: 1:12-cr-00509-REB-1
- Sentenced to 7 years in prison [89]
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:12-cr-00509-REB-1
- 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 DOCKET 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
- Defense Attorney Jeffrey Lyn Ertel Federal Defender Program Inc.-Atl
- PLEADS GUILTY, Sentencing set for November 20, 2013
- 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 [100]
- PLEADS GUILTY [101] - Sentenced to 78 months (from PACER docket)
- USA v. Jones U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas (Waco)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 6:12-cr-00262-WSS-1
- James Donald Mobley (Teacher & Boy Scout volunteer) of Tenino, Washington [102]
- PLEADS NOT GUILTY (from PACER) - Jury Trial set for January 21, 2014
- USA v. Mobley --- US District Court for the Western District of Washington (Tacoma)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 3:13-cr-05407-RBL-1
- Defense Attorney Thomas Alexander Campbell [103]
- James Douglas Manring (Teacher) of Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Louis Rosenfeld of Nashua, New Hampshire [112]
- Brad McMullin (Nurse) of Fayetteville, Arkansas [113]
- Troy Czukoski (Middle School Principal) of Media, Pennsylvania
- PLEADS GUILTY - Sentencing set for SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 (from PACER)
- USA v. Czukoski - United States District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:13-cr-00113-LDD-1
- Defense Attorney: Joseph P. Green, Jr. [119]
- Charles Compton of Pikeville, Kentucky [120]
- Douglas Randolph Collins (Teacher) of Van Nuys, California [130]
- Mark Beres (Optometrist) of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania [133]
- Thomas Hamel (Teacher & Athletic Trainer) of St. Ignace, Michigan [134]
- Jorge A. Roman (Teacher & Soccer Coach) of Princeton, New Jersey [135] [136]
- News article which mentions AZOV Films [137]
- Background [138] [139] [140]
- USA v. Roman - US District Court - District of New Jersey (Trenton)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 3:13-mj-05043-TJB-1
- Defense Attorney: LISA J. VAN HOECK - Federal Public Defender's Office
- 22 S. Clinton Ave. 4TH FL - Trenton, NJ 08609 - Tel.(609) 989-2160 Email: lisa_van_hoeck@fd.org
- Case Continued Until November 18, 2013
- Clifford Eric Perian of Denver, Colorado [141]Court Complaint [142]
- USA v. Perian - U.S. District Court - District of Colorado (Denver)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-mj-01086-BNB-1
- Defense Attorney Brian Rowland Leedy - Office of the Federal Public Defender
- USA v. Perian - U.S. District Court - District of Colorado (Denver)
- Evan Guros of Seattle, Washington [143]
- William Shaffer of Birmingham, Michigan [144]
- Bruce O. Downsbrough of Knoxville, Tennessee [145] Search Warrant Affidavit [146]
- USA v. Downsbrough - U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee (Knoxville)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 3:13-cr-00061-1
- Defense Attorney - A. Philip Lomonaco [147]
- USA v. Downsbrough - U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee (Knoxville)
- Stanton Hager of Beverly, Massachusetts [148] Affidavit [149]
- USA v. Hager - United States District Court - District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-mj-01127-RBC-1
- Defense Attorney Christopher S. Skinner - Federal Public Defender Office
- USA v. Hager - United States District Court - District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- Jeffrey Lynn Hines of Adairville, Kentucky [150]
- USA v. Hines - United States District Court - Western District of Kentucky
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-00032-TBR-1
- Defense Attorney Laura R. Wyrosdick Western Kentucky Federal Community Defender, Inc.
- USA v. Hines - United States District Court - Western District of Kentucky
- Richard Dean Russell of New Holland, Pennsylvania [151]
- Gerald Burnham of Adolphus, Kentucky - PLEADS GUILTY [154]
- Charles Appel of Ben Avon, Pennsylvania [155]
Updates
- Azov Films Arrests Round Up - with details --- BoyChat post dated March 10, 2013 [156]
- Azov Films Legal Advice --- BoyChat posts [157] [158] [159] --- 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 [160]
External Links
- Honey Pot or Legit Site? --- BlackTurtle.us blog post dated February 7, 2010 [161] Accessed: 2012-11-03. (Archived by WebCite® at [162])
- Nude Art Controversies Blog [163]
- The Azov Films mass-state-rape: details of Dr. Richard Keller and other arrestees (a work in progress) [164]
- Journalism Hall of Shame --- [165] "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 [166]
