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]
- 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 - Sentenced to 6.5 years partly non-AZOV [12]
- USA v. Keller - U.S. District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- 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]
- 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 14 May 2014 (from PACER)
- USA v. Deneault - United States District Court --- District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- 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 CASE #: 1:13-cr-00043-S-LDA-1
- Sgt. Philip Woolery (Grapevine Police Department) of Crowley, Texas --- News Article + link to Complaint [25]---
- Gary Jefferson Byrd of Opelousas, Louisiana --- News Article [30] --- Arrested 9/24/2012 by US Postal Inspector Allyson Leigh Hoffine
- Joseph Finocchiaro of Bath, Maine --- Court Complaint Part 1 [33]--- Court Complaint Part 2 [34] --- News Article [35]
- Nicholas G. Sysock (High School Vice Principal) of Carteret, New Jersey --- News [42] --- News [43] --- Criminal Complaint [44]
- PLEADS GUILTY May 8, 2013 - Sentenced to 37 months [45]
- 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 [46] - [47] Re-indicted [48]
- Josh Ensley (School Janitor) of Tucker, Georgia --- News Article + link to Complaint [49]
- Pleads GUILTY - Sentenced to 15 years partly on non-AZOV charges [50]
- 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 [51]
- Andrew W. Nielsen (Police Officer) of S. Windsor, Connecticut --- News [55][56]
- USA v. Nielsen - U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (New Haven)- CRIMINAL CASE #: 3:12-mj-00273-TPS-1 -
- Pleads GUILTY, Sentencing set for 18 June 2014 - PURE AZOV case [57]
- USA v. Nielsen - U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (New Haven)- CRIMINAL CASE #: 3:12-mj-00273-TPS-1 -
- Michael Winston Baynes (School employee) of Henrico, Virginia --- News [58]
- David S. Engle (Attorney involved in youth baseball) of Maple Valley, Washington --- News [61] --- Press Release [62]
- Lawrence Higgins of Seneca Falls, NY --- News [65] --- Press Release [66]
- 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 ???? (from PACER)
- USA v. Higgins --- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (Rochester)
- Scott Studer (High School Coach) of Massillon, Ohio --- News [67] --- News [68]
- PLEADS GUILTY, but on tangential State charges (NOT AZOV-related) for Studer's secret videotaping of boys in the showers [69]
- Ryan Kasler (part-year Christian missionary in Romania) [76]
- PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 15 years [77]
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio (Columbus) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-00004-JLG-1
- Kris Katzenmeyer of Broomfield, Colorado --- Press Release [78] --- News [79]
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado (Denver)
- CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:12-cr-00509-REB-1 - Sentenced to 7 years in prison [80]
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado (Denver)
- Dr. Mark B. Shaffer Jr. (79-year-old physician) of Aurora, Ohio [81]
- PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges [82]
- Stanley Keith Johnson (Schools employee) of Mableton, Georgia [83][84][85]
- PLEADS GUILTY to non-AZOV porn - Sentenced to 15 years [86]
- 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 [87]
- 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 [91]
- PLEADS GUILTY [92] - 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 [93]
- PLEADS GUILTY - [94] - Sentenced to 48 Months custody; Lifetime of supervised release (from PACER)
- USA v. Mobley - US District Court Western District of Washington (Tacoma) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 3:13-cr-05407-RBL-1
- Restitution Hearing set for 5/30/2014 (from PACER)
- James Douglas Manring (Teacher) of Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Louis N. Rosenfeld of Nashua, New Hampshire [105] - Sentenced to Community Supervision [106] - Pure AZOV case
- Brad W. McMullin (Nurse) of Fayetteville, Arkansas [107] - Sentenced to 4 years on 10/10/2013 [108] - Pure AZOV case
- Stephen Hickey (Teacher) of Warwick, Rhode Island [109] --- Criminal Complaint [110]
- PLEADS GUILTY - Sentenced to 18 months in a Halfway House [111]
- 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 [112]
- 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 [113]
- Douglas Randolph Collins (Teacher) of Van Nuys, California [123]
- Mark Beres (Optometrist) of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania [126]
- PLEADS NOT GUILTY - Pretrial Motions due by 30 June 2014 (from PACER) - Defense Attorney Ryan Tutera [127]
- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)- CRIMINAL CASE #: 2:13-cr-00151-JFC-1
- Clifford Eric Perian of Denver, Colorado [135]Court Complaint [136]
- PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges, Sentenced to 6 years, 10 months [137]
- USA v. Perian - U.S. District Court - District of Colorado (Denver) - CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-mj-01086-BNB-1
- Evan Guros of Seattle, Washington [138]
- William Shaffer of Birmingham, Michigan [139]
- 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
- Stanton Hager of Beverly, Massachusetts [144] Affidavit [145]
- 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.[146] Sentenced to 5 years, $4500 Restitution (from PACER)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:13-cr-10335-RWZ-1
- USA v. Hager - United States District Court - District of Massachusetts (Boston)
- Jeffrey Lynn Hines of Adairville, Kentucky [147]
- PLEADS GUILTY to tangential non-AZOV charges [148] - Sentencing on 8 April 2014 (from PACER)
- 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 [149]
- 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)
- Gerald Burnham of Adolphus, Kentucky - PLEADS GUILTY [150]
- Charles Appel of Ben Avon, Pennsylvania [151]
- USA v. Appel - United States District Court - Western District of Pennsylvania
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:13-cr-00251-JFC-1 - PLEADS GUILTY, Sentencing set for 22 APR 2014 (from PACER)
- USA v. Appel - United States District Court - Western District of Pennsylvania
- Clifton Brett Bennett of Colorado Springs, Colorado [152]
- 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
- Intends to PLEAD GUILTY on May 1, 2014 (from PACER)
- 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. [153]
- 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. [153]
- James Rick Mitchell (retired teacher) of San Diego, CA - SENTENCED to 7 years partly non-AZOV [154]
- Jesse Ryan Loskarn of Washington, DC (Senatorial Aide) [155] [156]Statement of Facts [157]
- USA v. Loskarn - U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
- CRIMINAL CASE #: 1:13-mj-00945-JMF-1 - Loskarn COMMITS SUICIDE [158]
- 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 [159]
- 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 [160] - "Let's Count the Lies" [161]
- PLEADS GUILTY -- Sentencing set for 19 May 2014 (from PACER) [162]
- 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 [165] - Pure AZOV case
Updates
- State-rape - mortification of non-harming deviants - Kristofor argues Azov defendants have been "state-raped" - 27 Sept 2012 [166]
- Azov Films Legal Advice --- BoyChat posts [167] [168] [169] --- 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 [170]
- Spading Up Hate: Joanna Beaven-Desjardins’ Big Lie --- by Bernie Najarian 13 Dec 2013 - A look at Operation Spade [171]
- Pedophobe of the Year: Paul Krawczyk, Toronto Police --- by Bernie Najarian 1 Jan 2014 [172]
- Press Hostility to Azov Accuracy --- Another winning article by Bernie Najarian dated 14 Feb 2014 [173]
- Mick Moran of Interpol and Pro-active Pedo Policing --- by Bernie Najarian dated 24 Feb 2014 [174]
External Links
- Honey Pot or Legit Site? --- BlackTurtle.us blog post dated February 7, 2010 [175] Accessed: 2012-11-03. (Archived by WebCite® at [176])
- Nude Art Controversies Blog [177]
- The Azov Films mass-state-rape: details of Dr. Richard Keller and other arrestees (a work in progress) [178]
- The Azov Films secret mass arrest conspiracy in the USA - when police secretly redefine law [179]