Adult film star Justin Heath Smith, also known professionally as Austin Wolf, has been arrested in New York on charges related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the Department of Justice confirmed Friday.
According to an unsealed complaint, the 43-year-old allegedly sent and received hundreds of videos depicting sexual abuse of minors via the messaging app Telegram, including disturbing footage involving infants.
Smith has built a notable following in LGBTQ adult entertainment and has recently gained attention on social media, boasting nearly a million followers on X and Instagram and frequent collaborations with popular TikTok creators.
Justin Heath Smith charged with distributing child sexual abuse material
The FBI began investigating Smith in March after an anonymous Telegram account linked to him exchanged CSAM with a seized account, according to the DOJ.
An undercover agent later connected with Smith’s account, where he reportedly shared personal information.
Authorities also allege that Smith ran a Telegram channel promoted on one of his websites, which had more than 12,000 subscribers.
A subsequent FBI raid on his Manhattan apartment in April uncovered an SD card containing additional CSAM.
Smith now faces up to 20 years for distribution and receipt of child pornography, and an additional 10 years for possession if convicted, per PEOPLE.
FBI Assistant Director James Smith condemned the actions: “I want to make it clear: those who distribute child sexual abuse images prey upon the most vulnerable in our society.
"Each image is a crime scene, leaving lasting scars on innocent victims.
"The FBI is relentless in our pursuit of these perpetrators.
"We will track them down, arrest them, and ensure they face justice for the harm they cause.”
Telegram under scrutiny in child exploitation investigations
Telegram, a messaging platform known for its minimal content moderation and history of controversy, allows users to share banned material in private or broadcast channels.
While the company enforces rules against illegal content, it states that private messaging is not monitored.
A Telegram spokesperson, Remi Vaughn, said the platform has actively moderated child abuse content since its launch, including shutting down 50,000 related groups and channels in the past month alone, per NBC.
Smith’s arrest serves as a stark reminder of ongoing efforts by federal authorities to crack down on online child exploitation and highlights the continued risks posed by digital platforms where illegal content can circulate with less oversight.