Manhattan Dentist Arrested On Drug Trafficking, Child Porn Charges

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Manhattan dentist accused of distributing drugs and child pornography was arrested at his Greenwich Village home Friday.

John Wolf, 59, was charged with conspiracy and possessing child porn.

According to a criminal complaint, Wolf provided dental services to a drug dealer in exchange for meth -- some of which he would personally use and some he would distribute to others.

Wolf also used his dental office, located at 212 West 15th St., as a place to view and distribute child pornography, according to the complaint.

In recorded conversations with an undercover FBI agent, federal prosecutors said Wolf admitted to having child porn and gave the agent a flash drive with videos of children as young as toddlers being raped by adult men, according to the complaint.

On Friday, Wolf appeared before a judge looking disheveled with his shirt partly unbuttoned, exposing his chest, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.

Defense attorney Mark Agnifilo spoke with reporters after the brief court appearance.

"The meth stuff is, I think, the only thing that's really going to end up meaning anything. And that goes back to about a year ago. He's been in rehabs. I think he's vulnerable," he said.

Agnifilo also claimed that Wolf is not the drug trafficker the government is making him out to be, nor is he a pedophile. He said he believes the child porn charges are a case of entrapment, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

"At one point they make a reference to the fact that it's the government that provided him with the websites that are at issue," Agnifilo said. "At some point you have to ask yourself when does the government go too far. Have they gone too far here?"

A bail hearing has been set for Tuesday, but the government is arguing for a permanent order of detention, saying the dentist is a danger to the community, Diamond reported.

If anyone has information regarding this case, or if you believe you or a family member may have been a victim, please contact the FBI at 212-384-5000.