A 72 year old Somers resident, with ties to Westchester County spanning 5 decades, was arrested on Feb. 23 by the FBI and charged with receiving and possessing videos and images containing child pornography.
Richard Leaf is alleged, according to the complaint, of posing as a teenager named “Alex Bronson” to communicate on Skype with a minor who Leaf believed was a 15 years old boy. During the course of these communications, the minor sent Leaf a video of himself masturbating in the shower and a fully nude photo of himself in a bedroom. In addition, law enforcement officers uncovered almost a dozen images and videos containing child pornography on Leaf’s home computer.
The Complaint further alleges that Leaf created a dozen fictitious accounts on Chat Avenue, an online chatroom website, and Skype to communicate with minors. The usernames of some of LEAF’s fictitious accounts include: alex Bronson, sportsboi.15, alex15, 15brandon, zach.914, runnerboi.14, austinf19, sportsgirl.914, brandon.williams.23, dan.dan77771, beachsand.7, Austin A.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss urged parents and young adults who may have interacted with any of these usernames to call 1-800-CALL-FBI to help provide additional information that would help the investigation and help put this dangerous predator away for the rest of his life.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Richard Leaf is alleged to have engaged in deeply disturbing sexual communications with minors, and in being in possession of child pornography. Child pornography inflicts immeasurable damage upon innocent victims, and this Office and our FBI partners will continue to exhaustively detect, identify, and charge any individuals engaged in this sinister conduct.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “As our society continues to become more reliant on technology, more of our children are exposed to the most despicable predators – those searching out young children to sexually exploit them. As we allege in this case, Mr. Leaf used Skype to chat with his victims. I’d like to stress to parents that although these contacts may occur in a virtual world, they harm your children in the real world. These criminals inflict lasting damage to their victims, and both parents and guardians need to be aware of the dangers their children face. The list below provides known fake handles Mr. Leaf allegedly used to contact children. Please take a look and have a conversation with your child. “
Leaf is charged with one count of receiving child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison; and one count of possessing child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Ong is in charge of the prosecution.
Leaf, a member of the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame, has been the longtime announcer for Iona College basketball. He is also a retired Harrison middle school social studies teacher.
Iona Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski said that Leaf is not a college employee but an outside contractor. “Iona College has learned of disturbing allegations involving an individual who was contracted to announce basketball games for the past several years,” Glovaski said. “At this time, none of the allegations have any association with the College. Iona takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, including against vendors.”
Leaf spoke briefly to LoHud.com, claiming that the photos and videos found, “stem from a hacking of my computer. I really don’t know how it was done.” But then when he was asked if he posed as a teenager online, he said, “yes, there is some truth in it.” After that comment, Leaf stopped talking and is free on $100,000 bail.
Leaf gave the FBI permission to search his computer, where they found 10 files involving child pornography. He also shared a video that he saved of the 15-year old boy that he had been in contact with under the brandon account.
When the FBI interviewed the 15-year old boy, he admitted sending images to someone named “Alex” and “Brandon” and also that “Brandon” sent him nude photos.
