NYC Sanitation Worker Arrested in Online Sting

DA’s ‘Operation Teensaver’ nets another

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Charles Taranow, a NYC Sanitation Department worker from Brooklyn, was arrested yesterday and charged with three counts of Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the First Degree, a Class E Felony; Criminal Solicitation in the Fourth Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor; and Attempted Patronizing a Prostitute in the Third Degree, a Class B Misdemeanor.

It is alleged that between August, 2005, and March, 2006, Mr. Taranow engaged in sexually-explicit on-line conversations with District Attorney investigators acting in the capacity of 14 and 15-year-old girls while on America Online’s Instant Messenger service.

Mr. Taranow also participated in a telephone conversation with the two undercover investigators on March 5 of this year.  During the call, he requested one of the undercovers, who had identified herself as being 14 years old, to engage in sexual activity with the defendant in exchange for $100.

A search warrant executed March 13 of this year on Mr. Taranow’s Brooklyn apartment uncovered pictures the defendant sent of himself to the investigators as well as pictures the investigators sent of their personae.  The material was found on the defendant’s computer and his hard drive and disks were seized at that time.

“Cyber-crime is no longer the crime of the future,” said District Attorney Kathleen Rice.  “These criminals are threatening our communities today.  We must match criminals not only in intensity, but also in sophistication.  I applaud the work done by Operation Teensaver and by my investigators.”

Mr. Taranow was arraigned yesterday in First District Court, Hempstead.  He is being held on $5,000 cash bail.  He was represented by Harlan Greenberg.

The undercover sting was executed by Operation Teensaver of the District Attorney’s Office, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney and Chief of the Technology Crimes Unit, Stephen Treglia.

Name: Charles Taranow

Age: 45

Address: 3839 Poplar Avenue, Brooklyn, New York

Charges: Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors 1° (3 cts.), Criminal Solicitation in the Fourth Degree, Attempted Patronizing a Prostitute in the Third Degree