An indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court charging Michael Wolf, 64, of Chicago, Illinois, with distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced on Apr. 2.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address the online exploitation and abuse of children through coordinated law enforcement initiatives.
According to court documents, Wolf used the Telegram messaging application to communicate with another user about his sexual interest in children and distributed ten videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors. Wolf also reportedly told the other user that he was communicating with minor children on an online dating application and forwarded sexually explicit images he stated depicted those minors. Law enforcement identified Wolf after he sent photos of himself to the other Telegram user.
U.S. Attorney Pirro was joined in announcing the charges by FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. The investigation is being conducted by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Washington, D.C., with assistance from the FBI Chicago Field Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in February 2006 aimed at protecting children from online exploitation and abuse through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies.
Authorities remind that charges contained in an indictment are allegations only; every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
