A prominent artist and activist who identifies as “non-binary queer” was arrested by federal agents on Friday for attempting to arrange sodomy with a nine-year-old boy in New York.
Efrem Zelony-Mindell, 35, has been charged by the US District Attorney’s Office with attempted seduction of a child and possession and distribution of child pornography – all felonies.
Agents say Mindell, who uses she/them pronouns, was investigated after he wrote to an undercover agent via encrypted messaging in April, posing as the Manhattan minor’s father.
In the news, prosecutors wrote that Mindell had attempted to arrange a meeting with the boy and “made clear in graphic and unequivocal terms his desire to engage in sexual activity with underage children.” The suspect was also on the pretext the child would be drugged before the encounter.
Efrem Zelony-Mindell, a prominent artist and activist who identifies as “non-binary queer,” was arrested by federal agents on Friday for attempting to arrange sodomy with a nine-year-old boy in New York
Mindell, who uses she/them pronouns, was investigated after he wrote to an undercover agent via encrypted messaging in April, posing as the Manhattan minor’s father.
Zelony-Mindell, a renowned figure in the New York arts scene, faces life imprisonment if convicted of seduction and an additional 20 years for any child porn crimes the artist has officially confessed to.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, spoke about the arrest of the once-respected artist over the weekend and described how Zelony-Mindell first fell under his office’s radar last April.
Federal prosecutors said Zelony-Mindell contacted the undercover agent who worked for the FBI because he believed he was the boy’s father. They are said to have tried to arrange anal intercourse with the child through his father.
On Friday, Zelony-Mindell met with the undercover agent on a Manhattan street corner, Williams said, expecting he would take her to meet the boy and sexually assault him while he was partially drugged.
In the news, prosecutors wrote that Mindell had attempted to arrange a meeting with the boy and “made clear in graphic and unequivocal terms his desire to engage in sexual activity with underage children.” The suspect also pretended to drug the child before the encounter and sent the undercover agent videos and images showing sexual acts on children
Damning media broadcast by Zelony-Mindell – who used the alias Evan Smith during his conversations with the agent – included a picture of “a boy of about four being forced to perform oral sex on a grown man” and a second Image showing “an adult man holding a boy of about 12 with his penis and anus exposed”
Instead, federal agents overseeing the sting arrested Zelony-Mindell, whom they subsequently charged with possessing and distributing child pornography, based on images and video sent to the agent during their digital correspondence.
Court documents filed on Friday revealed the extent of the disturbing content, including video broadcast by Zelony-Mindell in May of “a grown man raping a boy of about 11 by anal penetration.”
Other scathing media broadcast by Zelony-Mindell — who used the alias Evan Smith during his conversations with the agent — included an image of “a boy of about four being forced to perform oral sex on a grown man,” and a second image showing “an adult man holding a boy of about 12 years old with his penis and anus exposed”.
Zelony-Mindell, who has taught courses and lectures on art and photography at universities across the country, first came under his office’s radar last April when he began sending messages to the undercover agent
According to court documents filed with the Southern District of New York, Zelony-Mindell waived her Miranda rights, agreed to speak to law enforcement, and during an interview admitted to possessing and distributing child pornography.
Shortly before the arrest, officials said Zelony-Mindell met with another agent in Lower Manhattan at a coffee shop between Greenwich and Hudson Streets before heading to the apartment where agents said the child was being housed.
Zelony-Mindell then met the other agent outside shortly after, after which the art expert — who has lectured in schools across the country and written about art and photography for publications like the Huffington Post and Vice — was arrested.
Zelony-Mindell, a well-known figure in New York’s arts sector, was arrested on Friday and faces life in prison if convicted on the seduction charge and an additional 20 years for any child porn offense – which officials say the artist is on sentence has already been confessed. Pictured is the home page of his website, where he promotes works that often use the masculine form
US Attorney Williams said in a statement about the office’s months-long activity: “Zelony-Mindell allegedly attempted to engage in sexual activity with a nine-year-old boy.
“Protecting children from predators remains critical to this office and we will continue to leverage our resources and work with our law enforcement partners to bring offenders to justice.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll further chided the suspect – who once wrote a story promoting the “iconic” photograph of an underage prostitute in Seattle.
“As claimed, Mr. Zelony-Mindell’s actions are nearly inscrutable,” said FBI Deputy Director Michael J. Driscoll.
Zelony-Mindell’s social media accounts, meanwhile, are riddled with suggestive artwork and language – the artist recently shared a piece showing two men with a wire hanger sticking out of both their anuses.
“Today’s action should be a reminder to anyone attempting to exploit children — the FBI’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue and hold you accountable.”
Zelony-Mindell, who graduated in photography and painting from the Big Apple’s famed School of Visual Arts in 2011, has also led activism efforts championing underappreciated LGBTQ+ photographers in the New York area.
Zelony-Mindell’s social media accounts, meanwhile, are riddled with suggestive artwork and language – the artist recently shared a piece showing two men with a wire hanger sticking out of both their 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