Jacob Walden, a 38-year-old healthcare executive from Nassau County, has been charged with serious crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors.
He was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography, sexually exploiting children, and accessing with the purpose to view child pornography in a six-count indictment when he appeared in Central Islip Federal Court.
Over the period of four years, he is accused of forcing about a dozen underage girls—some as young as 14—to produce sexually explicit images and films.
He reportedly paid two children to call him “daddy” and gave them money in exchange for the material they supplied.
The investigation into his operations started last September 2023, that eventually led to the recovery of some disturbing images in his cellphone, last April 2024. So far, at least 11 girls had been identified as victims, and the two primary victims have already been interviewed in connection with the said investigation.
This can be said following the statement released by United States Attorney John J. Durham, who had emphasized that kids should be completely protected from being preyed by such predators saying that the welfare of minors becomes a top consideration for his office.
Investigators further found Walden, a father of five, repeatedly purchased at least 500 images and 5,000 videos depicting rape, bestiality and the abuse of toddler-aged children from a large-scale production and distribution ring that advertised to adult male buyers in the US and aboard, according to court docs.
After his arrest on July 31, 2024, Walden was put under home confinement at his $2 million residence. Within a month, he violated the terms of his confinement by making an unauthorized visit to a Verizon store and attempting to solicit sex through WhatsApp.
Because he is considered a flight risk and a danger to society, he is currently being held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Walden’s counsel, Benjamin Baufman, argued his client’s compulsions stem from his own abuse as a child, pressing the court that dozens of religious members of the Orthodox Community have begged for “leniency and compassion.”
Because of the seriousness of the charges against Walden, Judge Gary Brown ruled to keep him in detention in spite of this defense.
Walden has five kids and is married. As a founding member of a synagogue, he was actively involved in local religious activities and has frequently presented himself as a dedicated community volunteer.
His personal blog highlights his dedication to supporting kids who are at danger and his conviction that he can have a good influence on his community.
If convicted on all counts, Walden faces up to 30 years in prison.
His next court appearance is scheduled for February 24, 2024.
