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 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 B**w***. [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]
UPDATE from SPAIN: 28 Azov customers in Spain were arrested on or about December 7, 2012.
NOTE: LEO's sometimes dub their AZOV campaign Project Spade or Operation Spade.
Defendants
(This may be an incomplete list. 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]
- 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
- 51 Sleeper Street 5th FL Boston, MA 02210 617-223-8061 Fax: 617-223-8080 Email: stellio_sinnis@fd.org
- USA v. Deneault
- Gerald Silva (State Probation Officer) of Coventry, Rhode Island ---News Article [32] --- Press Release + Complaint [33]
- 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 [34]
- USA v. Silva
- Sgt. Philip Woolery (Grapevine Police Department) of Crowley, Texas --- News Article + link to Complaint [35]---
- Gary Jefferson Byrd of Opelousas, Louisiana --- News Article [40] --- Arrested 9/24/2012 by US Postal Inspector Allyson Leigh Hoffine
- PLEADS NOT GUILTY 1/11/2013 [41] --- Motion To Dismiss [42] - JURY TRIAL set for October 7, 2013
- 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 --- Law Office of Randal P McCann (no website)
- 1005 Lafayette St --- Lafayette, LA 70501
- Tel: 337-232-1255 --- Fax: 337-232-1268 --- Email: rpm@rpmlawfirm.com
- 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 - Sentencing August 15, 2013 [55] [56]
- USA v. Sysock
- U.S. District Court --- District of New Jersey (Newark)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:12-mj-03197-PS-1
- Defense Attorney: Carol Gillen --- Federal Public Defenders Office
- 1002 Broad St --- Newark, NJ 07103
- 973-645-6347 --- Fax: 973-645-3101 --- Email: carol_gillen@fd.org
- Josh Ensley (School Janitor) of Tucker, Georgia --- News Article + link to Complaint [59]
- Pleads GUILTY - Sentencing set for July 25, 2013 [60]
- USA v. Ensley
- U.S. District Court --- Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:12-cr-00385-CAP-JFK-1
- Lead Defense Attorney: Kendal Demetrius Silas Federal Defender Program Inc.-Atl
- Tel.404-688-7530 Email: kendal_silas@fd.org
- Retained Attorney: Paul Stephen Kish [61]
- William Villemez (Teacher) of Smyrna, Georgia --- News [62]
- PLEADS GUILTY to Count 2 on April 19, 2013 [63]
- USA v. Villemez
- U.S. District Court --- Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:12-cr-00392-CAP-GGB-1
- Defense Attorney --- Judy A. Fleming --- Federal Defender Program Inc.-Atl
- Suite 1500, Centennial Tower -- 101 Marietta Street, NW -- Atlanta, GA 30303
- 404-688-7530 --- Fax: 404-688-0768 -- Email: Judy_Fleming@FD.Org
- 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 July 17, 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 [70] --- Press Release [71]
- Amended Criminal Complaint [72]
- PLEADS NOT GUILTY --- JURY TRIAL set for August 19, 2013
- USA v. Engle --- US District Court for the Western District of Washington (Seattle)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:12-cr-00366-JLR-1
- Defense Attorney --- Peter J Avenia Federal Public Defender's Office (SEA)
- 1601 5TH AVE STE 700 Westlake Center Office Towers Seattle, WA 98101
- (206) 553-1100 Fax: (206) 553-0120 Email: peter_avenia@fd.org
- 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
- 28 East Main Street Suite 400 Rochester, NY 14614
- Tel: 585-263-6201 Fax: 585-263-5871 Email: jeffrey_ciccone@fd.org
- CASE CONTINUED until July 2, 2013 (from PACER Docket)
- USA v. Higgins --- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (Rochester)
- Scott Studer (High School Coach) of Massillon, Ohio --- News [75] --- News [76]
- PLEADS GUILTY, but on tangential State charges (NOT AZOV-related) for Studer's secret videotaping of boys in the showers [77]
- Ryan C. Bieler (former Boy Scouts executive) of Ireland, Indiana [80] --- Court Complaint [81]
- PLEADS GUILTY MARCH 12, 2013 [82] SENTENCED to SIX YEARS [83]
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana (Evansville)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 3:12-mj-00087-WGH-1
- Court-Appointed (CJA) Defense Attorney Ivan Arnaez --- 123 Northwest 4th Street Evansville, IN 47708
- Tel. (812) 424-6671 (812) 434-4818 (Fax) --- Email: jdcmjs@aol.com
- Ryan Kasler (part-year Christian missionary in Romania) [84]
- PLEADS GUILTY, Sentenced to 15 years [85]
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio (Columbus)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 2:13-cr-00004-JLG-1
- Court-Appointed Federal Public Defender Steven Scott Nolder --- One Columbus 10 W Broad Street
- Suite 1020 Columbus, OH 43215-3419 Tel. 614-469-2999 Email: Steve_Nolder@fd.org
- Kris Katzenmeyer of Broomfield, Colorado --- Press Release [86] --- News [87]
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado (Denver)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 1:12-cr-00509-REB-1
- Defense Attorney Robert William Pepin --- Office of the Federal Public Defender
- 633 Seventeenth Street #1000 --- Denver, CO 80202
- Tel: 303-294-7002 Fax: 303-294-1192 --- Email: Robert_Pepin@fd.org
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado (Denver)
- Dr. Mark B. Shaffer Jr. (79-year-old physician) of Aurora, Ohio [88]
- Stanley Keith Johnson (Schools employee) of Mableton, Georgia [89][90][91]
- INDICTED January 8, 2013 [92]
- PLEADS GUILTY - Sentencing set for July 8, 2013 (from PACER)
- 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 [93]
- INDICTED January 8, 2013 [94]
- PLEADS NOT GUILTY [95]
- 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
- Suite 1500, Centennial Tower 101 Marietta Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303
- Tel. 404-688-7530 Email: jeff_ertel@fd.org
- Robert L. Nouwen (Church deacon) of Mobile, Alabama
- Willard I. Jones of Bell County, Texas --- Criminal Complaint [99]
- James Donald Mobley (Teacher & Boy Scout volunteer) of Tenino, Washington [102]
- Court Extended Time to File Indictment to July 16, 2013
- USA v. Mobley --- US District Court for the Western District of Washington (Tacoma)
- CRIMINAL DOCKET CASE #: 3:13-mj-05010-JRC-1
- Defense Attorney -- Linda R Sullivan -- Federal Public Defenders Office (TAC)
- 1331 Broadway Ste 400 Tacoma, WA 98402 253-593-6710 Fax: 253-593-6714 Email: linda_sullivan@fd.org
- James Douglas Manring (Teacher) of Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Daryl Robertson (Teacher) of Eliot, Maine [106][107][108]
- Defense Attorney Alan J. Cronheim of Sisti Law Offices[109]
- Louis Rosenfeld of Nashua, New Hampshire [110]
- Brad McMullin (Nurse) of Fayetteville, Arkansas [111]
- Troy Czukoski (Middle School Principal) of Media, Pennsylvania
- Charles Compton of Pikeville, Kentucky [118]
- Stuart Forrest (Former San Mateo County Probation Chief) of San Mateo, California [119]
- Douglas Randolph Collins (Teacher) of Van Nuys, California [122]
- PLEADS NOT GUILTY May 15, 2013 [123]
- Mark Beres (Optometrist) of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania [124]
- Thomas Hamel (Teacher & Athletic Trainer) of St. Ignace, Michigan [125]
- Jorge A. Roman (Teacher & Soccer Coach) of Princeton, New Jersey [126] [127]
- News article which mentions AZOV Films [128]
- Background [129] [130] [131]
- 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 July 20, 2013
- Clifford Eric Perian of Denver, Colorado [132]Court Complaint [133]
- 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
- 633 Seventeenth Street #1000 Denver, CO 80202
- Tel. 303-294-7002 Fax: 303-294-1192 Email: Brian_Leedy@fd.org
- USA v. Perian - U.S. District Court District of Colorado (Denver)
- Evan Guros of Seattle, Washington [134]
- William Shaffer of Birmingham, Michigan [135]
Updates
- Azov Films Arrests Round Up - with details --- B**C*** post dated March 10, 2013 [136]
- Azov Films Legal Advice --- B**C*** posts [137] [138] [139] --- An anonymous B**C*** 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 --- B**C*** post dated December 7, 2012 [140]
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