Brooklyn Rabbi Arrested on Child Porn Charges

By Aaron Feis
New York Post
March 6, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/03/06/brooklyn-rabbi-arrested-on-child-porn-charges/

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.