Justin Heath Smith, also known as “Austin Wolf,” has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for child sexual exploitation offenses. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer following Smith’s guilty plea.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton commented on the case, stating, “Justin Heath Smith’s crimes against children are horrible. He targeted kids as young as seven, and every New Yorker wants him and those like him off our streets for as long as possible and never again near our children. The women and men of our Office, and our law enforcement partners, are laser focused on ridding our streets of those who sexually exploit our children. The message to predators from our Office is clear: there is no place for you in New York other than prison.”
Court documents show that since at least 2023, Smith engaged in a pattern of sexually exploiting minors. In one incident during late 2023 or early 2024, Smith and another adult met with a 15-year-old minor; the other adult performed oral sex on the minor while Smith masturbated. Smith also had sexual encounters with someone he believed to be 15 years old—who was actually an adult—and recorded one such encounter involving a third participant.
Smith attempted to arrange meetings with additional minors for sexual activity. In January 2024, he planned with another individual to abuse a purported nine-year-old child but the meeting was called off before it occurred. In February 2024, he made plans to meet a purported 14-year-old for sex and provided directions so the minor could travel to his apartment; this meeting did not take place.
Smith solicited explicit material from at least one confirmed minor and several individuals who claimed to be minors online. In one exchange, after learning he was communicating with a 15-year-old, Smith requested sexually explicit materials and received a video from the minor. He also communicated online with someone whose username suggested they were a 12-year-old male; they exchanged sexual photographs and discussed meeting.
Before his arrest, Smith arranged to meet someone claiming to be the father of a seven-year-old child who offered access for abuse. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence before this meeting could occur. Investigators found approximately 1,291 files containing child pornography on his devices—including about 75 files depicting infants or toddlers—and videos showing violent acts against young children. He also distributed child pornography to at least fifteen others.
In addition to his prison sentence, Smith received ten years of supervised release and must pay a $40,000 fine.
Jay Clayton praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case.
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Getzel Berger from the General Crimes Unit.
Anyone with information about child exploitation is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-212-384-1000 or submit tips at https://tips.fbi.gov/.
