Justin Heath Smith, the 43-year-old adult content creator known as Austin Wolf, is being held in detention in Brooklyn after a judge ruled he was a danger to the public and a flight risk.
Adult film actor Austin Wolf, whose real name is Justin Heath Smith, was arrested on charges that he distributed child pornography. He stands accused of sending and receiving at least 200 videos, including one of a 10-year-old boy being bound and raped. Before his arrest, he posted adult content on his Twitter account where he is seen seducing and having sex with a young looking “fan” inside John Reed Fitness West Hollywood.
Smith, 43, was arrested following charges filed by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams and the FBI on Friday. According to authorities, he used a Telegram account to exchange the pornography with another user, which they later found stored on a memory card at his New York City apartment. He was charged with one count of distribution and receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Smith, who had over 947,500 followers prior to his arrest and currently has 935,500 on Twitter, posted videos of himself seducing a young-looking male at John Reed Fitness in West Hollywood before having sex with him inside one of the shower stalls at the gym. John Reed Fitness allows filming inside their facilities for fitness models and influencers, so it’s easy to film pornographic content.
On Monday, attorney Thomas H. Andrykovitz, who represents Justin Smith / Austin Wolf, told The Advocate that his client is being held in terrible conditions.
“The government’s press release contains nothing but unproven and untested allegations against a man that is presumed innocent. Justin is thankful for the incredible support he is receiving from his friends and supporters,” Andrykovitz said. “He is presently detained at [Metropolitan Detention Center]. It is well documented in judicial decision after judicial decision that the conditions of confinement at MDC are inhumane. Mr. Smith’s conditions are no different. The staff at MDC have already failed to provide him with his basic medications.”
Benjamin O’Cone, a spokesperson from the Office of Public Affairs at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP), confirmed to The Advocate that Smith is in federal custody at MDC but would not comment on Andrykovitz' specific allegations "for privacy, safety, and security reasons."
O'Cone added that the federal prison system provides essential medical, dental, and mental health services to all inmates and has an administrative remedy program for addressing inmate concerns.
Wolf's arrest and the serious charges against him have sent shockwaves through the adult entertainment industry, where Wolf is well-known and has a substantial fan base. As the legal proceedings unfold, the community remains divided, with some expressing continued support and others grappling with the disturbing nature of the allegations.
Here is how the members of his industry have responded to the news.
Felix Fox, who was one of the models that recently attended Austin Wolf's Collab Week in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, and has filmed a few scenes with the porn star said the following:
Jason Luna is also a frequent collaborator of Wolf's and attended Collab Week as well. He didn't necessarily defend Wolf, but didn't condemn his alleged actions either, the latter which caused a few people to drag him on Twitter.
Keep in mind Jason also collaborated with Michael Lucas, another problematic pornformer who came under fire for signing a missle meant for Palestinians.
If convicted, Smith faces up to 30 years in jail across both offences.
Anyone with further information on this case is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 with free and confidential services. More resources are available here.
While I get what Tony Genius is saying, we shouldn't let one rotten apple spoil the bunch. Conservatives will always find a way to push back at the queer community, especially if you're a sex worker.
We should take this is a teachable moment to be more responsible in regards to they type of content you put out, and the content creators you collaborate with.