NYC artist who identifies as ‘non-binary queer’ charged with trying to have sex with 9-year-old

A prominent artist and activist who identifies as ‘queer non-binary’ was arrested by federal agents on Friday for trying to arrange anal sex with a nine-year-old boy in New York.

Efrem Zelony-Mindell, 35, was booked by the US District Attorney’s Office for intent to entice a child, as well as possession and distribution of child pornography, all felonies.

Agents say Mindell, who uses the pronouns they/them, was investigated after sending a message to an undercover agent posing as the father of the Manhattan boy over an encrypted messaging service in April.

In the messages, prosecutors wrote that Mindell tried to set up a date with the boy, making makes clear, ‘in graphic and unambiguous terms, his desire to engage in sexual activity with minor children’. The suspect was also under the pretense that the boy would be drugged before the encounter.

Mindell, who uses they/them pronouns, was investigated after sending a message to an undercover agent posing as the father of the Manhattan boy over an encrypted messaging service in April.

Zelony-Mindell, a renowned figure in the New York art industry, faces life in prison if convicted on the incitement charge, and another 20 years for each child pornography offense, which authorities say the artist has already confessed to.

Addressing the arrest of the once-respected artist over the weekend, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams described how Zelony-Mindell first came under his office’s radar last April.

The federal prosecutor said Zelony-Mindell contacted the undercover agent, who was working for the FBI, believing he was the father of the child. They allegedly tried to arrange to have anal intercourse with the boy through his father.

On Friday, on a Manhattan street corner, Zelony-Mindel met with the undercover officer, Williams said, in the expectation that he would take them to meet the boy and sexually assault him while partially drugged.

In the messages, prosecutors wrote that Mindell attempted to arrange to meet the boy, making clear, “in graphic and unambiguous terms, his desire to engage in sexual activity with minor children.” The suspect also made the pretense that the boy would be drugged before the encounter and sent videos and images showing sexual acts with children to the undercover officer.

The damning media sent by Zelony-Mindell, who used the alias Evan Smith during his conversations with the officer, included an image of “a boy of approximately four years of age being forced to perform oral sex on an adult male,” and a second image that ‘depicted an adult male holding a boy of approximately 12 years of age whose penis and anus were exposed’

Instead, federal agents overseeing the operation arrested Zelony-Mindell, who they later charged with possessing and distributing child pornography based on images and videos that were sent to the agent during their digital correspondence.

Court documents filed Friday revealed the scope of the disturbing content, which included a video sent by Zelony-Mindell in May of “an adult male raping a boy of approximately 11 years of age by anally penetrating him.”

Other damning media sent by Zelony-Mindell – who used the alias Evan Smith during his conversations with the agent – included an image of ‘an approximately four-year-old boy forced to perform oral sex on an adult male’, and a second image that ‘depicted an adult male restraining a boy of approximately 12 years of age whose penis and anus were exposed’.

Zelony-Mindell, who has taught classes and lectured on art and photography at universities across the country, first came under her office’s radar last April, when she began messaging the undercover agent.

According to court documents filed with the Southern District of New York, Zelony-Mindell waived her Miranda rights, agreed to speak with police and admitted during an interview that she possessed and distributed child pornography.

Shortly before the arrest, authorities said Zelony-Mindel met with another officer at a coffee shop between Greenwich Street and Hudson Street in lower Manhattan before going to the apartment where officers said the boy was staying.

Zelony-Mindell then met the other agent outside shortly after, at which point the art expert, who has lectured at schools across the country and has written about art and photography for publications like the Huffington Post and Vice, was taken into custody. .

Zelony-Mindell, a well-known figure in the New York art scene, was arrested Friday and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on the charge of incitement, and an additional 20 years for each child pornography offense, to which that the authorities say that the artist has already confessed. Pictured is the home page of her website, where she advertises works that often feature the male form.

US Attorney Williams in a statement from the office’s months-long operation: ‘Zelony-Mindell allegedly attempted to engage in sexual activity with a nine-year-old boy.

“The protection of children from predation remains of paramount importance to this Office, and we will continue to use our resources and work with our law enforcement partners to bring offenders to justice.”

FBI Deputy Director Michael J. Driscoll further chastised the suspect, who once wrote a story promoting the ‘iconic’ photograph of an underage prostitute in Seattle.

“As alleged, Mr. Zelony-Mindell’s actions are almost unfathomable,” said FBI Deputy Director Michael J. Driscoll.

Meanwhile, Zelony-Mindell’s social media accounts are littered with suggestive artwork and language, and the artist recently shared a piece depicting two men with a wire hanger sticking out of both anuses.

“Today’s action should serve as a reminder to anyone seeking to take advantage of children: The FBI’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue you and hold you accountable.” “.

A 2011 graduate of the illustrious Big Apple School of Visual Arts in photography and painting, Zelony-Mindell has also led advocacy efforts defending under-recognized LGBTQ+ photographers in the New York area.

Meanwhile, Zelony-Mindell’s social media accounts are littered with suggestive artwork and language, and the artist recently shared a piece depicting two men with a wire hanger sticking out of both anuses.

“Just because I have esoteric thoughts and interests doesn’t make me a pervert,” read a meme shared by the artist, whose work often features the male form.

Zelony-Mindell did not respond to requests for comment.

“Just because I have esoteric thoughts and interests doesn’t make me a pervert,” reads one of many memes shared by the artist, whose work often features the male form.