By Joe Anuta
A Flushing man pleaded guilty Monday to running 18 websites containing child pornography from his Queens home.
Yong Wang, 28, admitted to advertising the sexual exploitation of children on his websites in Manhattan federal court, according to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
“Yong Wang made hundreds of thousands of dollars from a vast network of websites that he operated from the comfort and safety of his home while capitalizing on the sexual exploitation of children,” Bharara said. “But, in fact, he was not safe after all because the FBI infiltrated his network and caught up with him. This office, along with our investigative partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to prosecute and punish those like Wang, who earn a living online at the expense of children’s well-being and innocence.”
Wang pocketed $700,000 from his Chinese-language websites, where he charged $25 for a three-month membership or $100 for a lifetime membership, according to Bharara.
As part of the investigation, FBI agents applied for membership for one of Wang’s sites, translated as “Empire of the Young and Innocent Fragrances,” according to Bharara’s office.
Two of the sites were devoted primarily to child pornography, although all of them contained at least some, prosecutors said.
Wang categorized the horrifying images to allow more efficient browsing by users from around the world who he termed “VIP members,” Bharara’s office said.
The Flushing man was initially charged with receipt and distribution of child pornography and reproduction of child pornography for distribution, according to prosecutors, but these were not part of the plea deal.
Wang is also required to forfeit the websites and images to the federal government, Bharara said.
He is set to be sentenced Aug. 23 and faces a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 years in prison, according to prosecutors.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
