Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia
Levi was arraigned on a massive 1,542-count indictment.
By Forum Staff
After an online investigation, a Long Island City lawyer has been charged with possessing child porn, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Friday.
Eric Levi, 61, was arraigned Thursday night on a 1,542-count criminal complaint charging him with 514-counts each of promoting a sexual performance by a child, promoting a sexual performance by a child as a sexually motivated felony, and possessing a sexual performance by a child. Levi has been ordered to return to court on March 25.
According to the charges, said DA Katz, a police officer conducting an online investigation using specialized software identified an IP address that allegedly received approximately 50 files of material considered to be child sexual abuse images. A subpoena for the internet provider of the IP address identified the user as Levi with his home address and apartment number.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia
A detective performed a forensic preview of material on Levi’s computer and found more than 10 images of children between the ages of 6 and 8 naked and revealing their genitals.
A court-authorized search warrant was executed at Levi’s residence early Friday morning where police recovered an Apple computer, a USB storage unit and an iPhone. A detective performed a forensic preview of material on Levi’s computer and found more than 10 images of children between the ages of 6 and 8 naked and revealing their genitals. Levi allegedly admitted to pleasuring himself to the images and blamed COVID as he was lonely during the pandemic.
“As alleged, the defendant downloaded and viewed numerous images of nude prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts with adult males on his computer in his home,” Katz said. “These images of youngsters aren’t just pictures, but crime scene photos of children being abused. The defendant, a member of the bar, certainly should have known that his alleged actions were criminal.”
If convicted, Levi faces seven years in prison.
