Popular Gay Porn Star Busted on Child Porn Charges
Justin Heath Smith, also known as “Austin Wolf” in the adult film industry, was arrested on Friday for allegedly sending and receiving hundreds of child porn videos from his Manhattan apartment.
Authorities claim that Smith exchanged disturbing videos, including one depicting the rape of a 10-year-old child, with an anonymous individual under FBI investigation using the encrypted app Telegram.
An undercover FBI agent engaged in conversation with Smith through the same Telegram account to confirm his identity, according to court documents.
During a raid of Smith’s apartment in April, federal agents discovered approximately 200 videos containing child pornography on an SD card in the computer room of the adult film star, as stated in the complaint.
Smith, dressed in a tight-fitted athletic shirt and jeans, was remanded without bail during a hearing at Manhattan federal court on Friday.
Prosecutor Getzel Berger described Smith as a “danger to children online, danger to children offline, danger to children everywhere.”
His attorney, Michael Baldassare, requested that Smith, who has no prior criminal record, be placed under 24-hour house arrest with GPS monitoring instead of being sent to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Baldassare argued that the proposed restrictions would essentially turn Smith’s apartment into a prison but would ensure his safety and well-being.
However, Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky deemed the allegations against Smith as “very troubling” and concluded that releasing him would pose a risk to the community’s safety.
Smith is facing charges of distribution and receipt of child pornography as well as possession of child pornography, with a potential prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years if convicted.
As Smith was escorted out of the courtroom by federal marshals, he turned to his life partner of a decade in the gallery and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
Smith is scheduled to appear for an initial hearing on July 29.
