Queens couple charged with having more than 1,000 files of child pornography
NEW YORK (WABC) -- A Ridgewood, Queens couple has been charged with possessing more than a thousand files of child pornography.
The computer files contained children, some as young as three, depicted in a sexual manner or performing sex acts.
It is alleged that the files, consisting of images and videos, were downloaded off the Internet by the husband using a peer-to-peer network.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said that a peer-to peer-network is a network whereby computer users may directly connect to each other via the Internet and exchange files with each other.
"The Internet has replaced the proverbial back alley as the place where purveyors of child pornography gather to share their vile and disturbing videos and photographs of young children being sexually abused," said District Attorney Brown. "It is important for the public to remember that the images and videos being exchanged are, for all intents and purposes, photos and footage of crime scenes as they depict real children being cruelly victimized both physically and emotionally and who will have to carry the painful memory of that which occurred to them for the rest of their lives."
District Attorney Brown continued, "Perhaps what is most shocking, as alleged in this case, is that the husband and wife defendants could consider viewing such disturbing imagery as family entertainment."
The District Attorney identified the defendants as George Slavescu, 49, and his wife, Ioana Pricope-Slavescu, 35, of Ridgewood. Both are awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court.
George Slavescu is charged in a criminal complaint with 19 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child and 19 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
Ioana Pricope-Slavescu is charged in a separate criminal complaint with 15 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child. If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.
