Westchester Man Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Engaging In, And Videotaping, Sexual Activity With Minors

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James T. Hayes, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (“ICE”) Homeland Security Investigations in New York (“HSI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging RICHARD DINIZO, a/k/a “Rick,” a/k/a “Riccardo,” with engaging in sexual activity with five different minors, all under the age of 11 when the alleged crimes occurred, and with videotaping the sexual abuse. DINIZO is also charged with transporting videos depicting him engaging in sexual activity with minors to recipients outside of New York. DINIZO was arrested this morning and will be presented at about 10:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith in White Plains federal court.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “As alleged, Richard Dinizo was a serial pedophile who not only recorded his deviant criminal acts, but shared those videos with others. Sexual exploitation of children is a heinous crime that can scar its victims forever and we will continue to prosecute those crimes aggressively.”

Special Agent in Charge James T. Hayes, Jr. stated: “People who allegedly put our children at risk should expect to be found, prosecuted, and removed from society. We will continue to dedicate our resources to aggressively target sexual predators who exploit our children.”

DINIZO faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on each of five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for transporting child pornography.

Mr. Bharara praised the efforts of ICE HSI, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, Putnam County Sherriff’s Office, the New York State Police, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in connection with this investigation.

Mr. Bharara stated that the investigation is ongoing. He also noted that since DINIZO is alleged to have employed trickery and deceit, his victims may not have been aware that they were victims of sexual abuse. Mr. Bharara requests that individuals with relevant information and parents whose children may have had any interactions with DINIZO contact the Department of Homeland Security, in New York, New York, at (646) 313-4380.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

U.S. v. Richard Dinizo Indictment