Case of Rabbi Samuel Waldman

Case of Rabbi Samuel Waldman

Rabbi and Teacher - Beth Jacob Teachers Seminary of America, (Brooklyn, NY)
Borough Park, NY

U.S. Attorney arrested Rabbi Samuel Waldman on charges of distributing child pornography.  

Rabbi Waldman was charged with one count of transporting or distributing child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Agents went to Waldman’s home in the Kensington section, where he admitted obtaining the films from sharing sites, agents said in court papers. The rabbi said he has watched child pornography for several years on his computer, the agents claimed.

One video depicted young girls performing oral sex on men and being raped, court papers revealed. Another showed a young boy masturbating for the camera while a third showed an adult fondling a prepubescent boy.

The files were found November 1, 2013 on Waldman’s computer during a sting operation in which the feds downloaded the files from him using a peer-to-peer file sharing program, authorities said.

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Table of Contents:

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2013

1. The files were found November 1 on Waldman’s computer during a sting operation in which the feds downloaded the files from him using a peer-to-peer file sharing program, authorities said. (11/01/2013)

2014

1. Samuel Waldman Arrest Warrent   (03/05/2014)
2. Release: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest of Brooklyn Rabbi for Distributing Child Pornography (03/05/2014)
3. NY rabbi and teacher arrested in child porn case (03/05/2014)
4. Brooklyn Rabbi Samuel Waldman Hit With Child Pornography Charge (03/05/2014)
5. Brooklyn rabbi and teacher at a girls' seminary, 52, accused of distributing child pornography (03/05/2014)
6. Brooklyn rabbi arrested on child porn charges (03/06/2014)
   
   

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Press Release: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest of Brooklyn Rabbi for Distributing Child Pornography

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NY rabbi and teacher arrested in child porn case

Associated Press - March 5, 2014

A Brooklyn rabbi and teacher at a girls' seminary has been arrested on a child pornography distribution charge.

Prosecutors announced the arrest Wednesday of 52-year-old Samuel Waldman at his Brooklyn residence.

A criminal complaint in federal court in Manhattan charged Waldman with distributing child pornography over the Internet in November by enabling others to download multiple videos depicting children in sexual acts, including girls ages 4 to 11.

Waldman was charged with one count of transporting or distributing child pornography. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

He was released on $100,000 bond after an initial court appearance. He was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with children and no employment with access to children.

His lawyer declined comment.

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Brooklyn rabbi who teaches at girls’ seminary arrested on child porn charges

PIX 11 - March 5, 2014

KENSINGTON, Brooklyn (PIX11) - Samuel Waldman is a respected member of his Kensington, Brooklyn community. But he is now a suspect, arrested Wednesday morning for alleged possession of child pornography.

Federal agents showed up at his house with a search warrant and confiscated his home computer, which they say contained several downloaded video files of explicit sexual acts performed by adults on children between the ages of four and 11 years old.

Waldman is a rabbi and a teacher at a girls seminary school about a mile away from his home.

If convicted, Waldman faces a minimum of five years in prison.

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Brooklyn Rabbi Samuel Waldman Hit With Child Pornography Charge

Teacher at Girls School Admits Downloading Flicks

Forward - March 5, 2014

A Brooklyn rabbi was charged with downloading child pornography after federal agents caught him in a sting, authorities said.

Samuel Waldman, 52, a teacher at a Jewish girls seminary, faces a possible five years in prison after he admitted downloading at least three short films depicting young boys and girls engaging in sex acts.

“Samuel Waldman’s position of trust in the community, as both a rabbi and a teacher, makes his alleged distribution of child pornography all the more disturbing,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.

Waldman is charged with one count of transporting or distributing child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Agents went to Waldman’s home in the Kensington section, where he admitted obtaining the films from sharing sites, agents said in court papers. The rabbi said he has watched child pornography for several years on his computer, the agents claimed.

One video depicted young girls performing oral sex on men and being raped, court papers revealed. Another showed a young boy masturbating for the camera while a third showed an adult fondling a prepubescent boy.

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Brooklyn rabbi and teacher at a girls' seminary, 52, accused of distributing child pornography 

By Associated Press and Ryan Gorman

Daily Mail - March 5, 2014

A Jewish rabbi and teacher at a girls’ seminary in Brooklyn was arrested Wednesday on child pornography charges after his wife turned him in.

Samuel Waldman, 52, was busted by feds after Homeland Security agents found him to be sharing at least three disturbing videos with children aged from four to 11-years-old engaging in sex acts, according to a criminal complaint.

A girl believed to be only four-years-old was shown performing oral sex on and having intercourse with adult men in one of the videos, and a nine-year-old boy was shown in another being fondled by an adult male, the complaint said.

‘Samuel Waldman’s position of trust in the community, as both a rabbi and a teacher, makes his alleged distribution of child pornography all the more disturbing,’ United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said in a press release.

The files were found November 1 on Waldman’s computer during a sting operation in which the feds downloaded the files from him using a peer-to-peer file sharing program, authorities said.

This allowed them to trace the sickening files back to his home using his IP address, they said. An IP address is the unique identifier by which each computer connects to the internet, no two are the same.

Investigators visited the man’s home Monday and spoke to his wife, that conversation led to Wednesday’s raid.

Officials did not find the videos previously downloaded, but did find enough evidence to place him under arrest.

They also confiscated his computer, according to WPIX.

The affidavit also states that Waldman admitted to downloading, viewing and sharing child pornography for years, something he declined in multiple interviews.

‘[It’s] false, specifically the way they are describing the distribution and dissemination,’ he told the New York Post. ‘It’s absolutely being misconstrued completely, 100%, and we will fight that to the end.’

Beth Jacob Teachers Seminary of America

The affidavit also states that Waldman admitted to downloading, viewing and sharing child pornography for years, something he declined in multiple interviews.

‘[It’s] false, specifically the way they are describing the distribution and dissemination,’ he told the New York Post. ‘It’s absolutely being misconstrued completely, 100%, and we will fight that to the end.’

Waldman is a teacher at the Beth Jacob Teachers Seminary, only blocks from his home.

A person who answered the phone at the school refused comment and promptly hung up when reached by MailOnline.

It is not known which classes he teachers, or the ages of his students.

The rabbi was charged with one count of transporting or distributing child pornography, and faces between five and 20 years in prison if convicted. He was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with children and no employment with access to children.

He was released on $100,000 bail, it is not clear when he is due again in court.

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Brooklyn rabbi arrested on child porn charges

By Aaron Feis

New York Post - March 6, 2014

A Brooklyn rabbi has been busted for allegedly distributing child pornography to undercover federal agents online, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Samuel Waldman, 52, used a file-sharing program last November to send three illicit videos to a computer run by Homeland Security agents as part of a sting operation, authorities said.

One sick video showed girls engaging in sex acts with adult men, according to the criminal complaint. They appeared to range in age from 4 to 11.

Waldman, who also teaches at a girl’s seminary, was busted Wednesday morning at his Kensington home and charged with distribution of child pornography, prosecutors said. The rabbi copped to possessing kiddie porn, including the videos he sent to feds, according to the criminal complaint.

Waldman vehemently denied the distribution charge Wednesday night. “[It’s] false, specifically the way they are describing the distribution and dissemination,” he said. “It’s absolutely being misconstrued completely, 100%, and we will fight that to the end.”

Asked if he downloaded the videos for his own viewing, Waldman said, “That I’m not going into right now.”

The rabbi added that he works as a real estate broker and only teaches part-time. The court gave him permission to resume teaching right away, Waldman said. He declined to say what subject he teaches or name the seminary.

“Samuel Waldman’s position of trust in the community, as both a rabbi and a teacher, makes his alleged distribution of child pornography all the more disturbing,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

Waldman faces 5 to 20 years in prison if convicted.

He was released Wednesday on $100,000 bail.

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Brooklyn rabbi, girls’ school teacher, charged with distributing child pornography

Empire State News - March 6, 2014

NEW YORK – The United States Attorney’s office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (“ICE”) Homeland Security Investigations announced today the arrest of Samuel Waldman for distributing child pornography. Waldman, 52, a rabbi and a teacher at a girl’s seminary, was arrested by HSI agents this morning at his residence in Brooklyn, New York. He appeared before a U.S. Magistrate in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday

According to the allegations in the criminal Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, in or about November 2013, Waldman distributed child pornography over the Internet by making available for downloading through file-sharing software multiple videos depicting minors engaged in sexual acts.

Waldman is charged with one count of transporting or distributing child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Samuel Waldman’s position of trust in the community, as both a rabbi and a teacher, makes his alleged distribution of child pornography all the more disturbing. As we have said repeatedly, we have zero tolerance for the exploitation of children and we will prosecute and punish those who engage in this conduct.”

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