Nab Corona Man For Child Porn
Police cuffed a Corona man last Friday, Mar. 7, for allegedly engaging young girls in a pornographic “game” in which children were awarded points for performing various sexual acts, it was announced.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown identified the suspect as Jorel Fowler, 23, of 57th Avenue who was arraigned last Friday night on seven counts of use of a child in a sexual performance, seven counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, and seven counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child.
Fowler was ordered held on bail of $1 million bond or $750,000 cash. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
“[Fowler] is alleged to have coached seven young girls who he met online to perform various types of sexual acts which he then videotaped-convincing the girls that they were playing a game,” Brown said in a statement on Monday, Mar. 10. “Once again, we urge parents to monitor their children’s Internet activities because there are sexual predators waiting to take advantage of their children’s innocence and trusting nature.”
“The Internet can be a valuable source of information and education for young children but in this case, it can also be a very dangerous environment,” added Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. “This predator used the Internet to manipulate and prey upon young girls, but thanks to the efforts of investigators of the NYPD’s Computer Crimes Squad and Queens District Attorney’s Office, Fowler can no longer exploit his victims.”
According to the charges, NYPD detectives received a cyber tipline report from the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children regarding a child luring and child pornography complaint involving a 12-year-old girl from Altus, Okla., with whom Fowler had allegedly been in communication earlier this year.
Following the tip, on Feb. 20, NYPD detectives went to Fowler’s home and, with his permission, removed an Asus laptop computer and an iPhone 5.
Reportedly, a forensic examination of the laptop recovered seven videos titled Sarah, Tiffany & Britney, Katelyn, Julia, Gabrielle, Ashley and Alex. The videos allegedly include text and video conversations between the defendant and different girls who are under 16 years of age and engaging in “the game.”
In each of the videos, it is alleged, Fowler is depicted instructing the child that points will be awarded for her successful performance of certain activities. There were several levels to the game, according to the allegations, the first level commences with “a smile” for five points.
At each level the defendant allegedly asks the child if she would like to proceed to the next levels- which involve the child touching various body parts with her fingers or objects, for 1,000 points and eventually for 3,000 points.
According to the charges, the videos that were allegedly recovered from Fowler’s computer depict young girls going to each level of the game, removing their clothing, and displaying their body parts.
At the end of “the game,” Fowler allegedly asks the girls if they would like to do it again and asks for their cell phone number.
Fowler allegedly admitted to police that he had been in touch with more than 10 minor females.
Brown asked anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Fowler or with information about the case to please call 1-718-286-6590.
The investigation was conducted by Det. Luciana Queiroga of the NYPD’s Computer Crimes Squad, Special Investigations Division, under the supervision of Sgt. Michael Konefal and Sgt. Patrick Fitzpatrick and Lt. Felix Rivera, and the overall supervision of Deputy Chief Jeremiah Quinlan.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Kateri A. Gasper of the Computer Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Anthony M. Communiello, bureau chief of the District Attorney’s Special Proceedings Bureau, and Oscar W. Ruiz, deputy bureau chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Linda M. Cantoni.
It was noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
