One of the financiers of the film Sound of Freedom has been arrested for kidnapping a child, according to the court.
Fabian Marta, 51, was one of thousands of donors who donated money for the production of the film, based on former Department of Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard’s efforts against child trafficking.
The St. Louis, Missouri resident was charged with child abduction last month.
“The Sound of Freedom movie tackles a very difficult subject and it took extraordinary effort to bring it to theaters,” Marta wrote on Facebook in a now-deleted post, as reported by Newsweek.
“I’m proud to have been a small part of it. When you see the film, look for ‘Fabian Marta and Family’ at the very end of the credits,” said Marta.
Fabian Marta, 51, was one of thousands of donors who contributed to the production of the Sound of Freedom
The film is based on former Department of Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard’s efforts against child trafficking. A still from the movie above
Marta’s name appears in the film’s credits as one of the “investors (who) helped bring Sound Freedom to theaters.”
He was released on personal admission after bail was set at $15,000 and is expected to appear in court on August 28.
Police have not released any additional details about the criminal charges.
If Marta is found guilty, she could face up to 10 years in prison.
When I reached my DailyMail.com on Friday, Marta sent all questions to his lawyer.
“There’s a lot wrong here,” he said.
Marta’s attorney Scott Rosenblum told DailyMail.com that Marta will plead not guilty.
“The charges are baseless and we expect a very favorable outcome,” he added.
It is not clear how much money Marta donated to the production of the film.
DailyMail.com has contacted the St. Louis Police Department for more information.
The company said in a statement, “Angel Studios complied with the requirements of federal and state laws and regulations by allowing 6,678 people to invest an average of $501 each in the launch of Sound of Freedom.
“Just as anyone can invest in the stock market, anyone who meets the legal criteria can invest in Angel Studios projects. One of the benefits of investing was the opportunity to be featured in the credits.”
‘Sound of Freedom’ star Jim Caviezel has delved into QAnon conspiracy theories, leading many liberal critics to watch the child sex trafficking film
Donald Trump with Tim Ballard (center) and Jim Caviezel (right) at a screening of the movie ‘Sound of Freedom’ on July 19, 2023 in New Jersey
The Sound of Freedom was an unexpected blockbuster this summer.
The faith-based thriller stars Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino and sheds light on the child trafficking crisis by telling the story of Tim Ballard – a former US government agent who quit his job to devote his life to rescuing children from sex traffickers.
While the film was a surprise hit, critics have condemned its portrayal of child exploitation and raised eyebrows at Ballard and Caviezel’s controversial opinions on QAnon.
Rather, Ballard seemed open to a debunked theory that the furniture salesman Wayfair sold children.
Meanwhile, Caviezel has spoken at multiple QAnon events where he promoted the adrenochrome conspiracy theory – which claims that child trafficking gangs drain their victims’ blood to harvest adrenochrome – a chemical that some conspiracy theorists believe people in Hollywood inject to stay young.
In addition, an organization founded by Ballard, Operation Underground Railroad, allegedly exaggerated its role in sex trafficking rescue operations, according to an investigation by Vice.
The investigation cited multiple law enforcement agencies as claiming that Operation Underground Railroad’s role in combating human trafficking was “insubstantial.”
Despite this, Verástegui said the film is important in shedding light on the crisis and has shrugged off naysayers.
“I close my eyes in the morning every day, (asking) What if this is my son? What if he goes missing? What would I do? I will stop everything I do and I will give my life to find my child,” he said.
Based on the compelling true story of a former US government agent who saves children from the clutches of Colombian criminals, Sound of Freedom seems at first glance to be the type of thriller with broad appeal.
But liberals have called it a far-right recruiting tool that promotes the QAnon conspiracy theory, which alleges that a cabal of Hollywood and Democratic Party pedophiles kidnap children and harvest their blood.
Meanwhile, conservatives have showered Sound of Freedom with praise for speaking to a part of working-class America they say has been rejected by Hollywood elites.
It has become a cause célèbre for right-wing pundits like Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro, as Trump hosted a screening of the film at his New Jersey golf club on Wednesday.