HSI agents arrest a Westchester County man for allegedly videotaping sexual activities with minors

NEW YORK – A man from Westchester County was indicted and arrested today for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with five different minors. The arrest is a result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Richard Dinizo, is accused of videotaping the sexual abuse of five minors, who were all under the age of 11 years-old when the alleged crimes occurred. Dinizio is also charged with transporting videos depicting him engaging in sexual activity with minors to recipients outside of New York.

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

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

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.

Hayes Jr. applauded the efforts of the Southern District of New York, 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.

This is still an active investigation and since Dinizio is alleged to have employed trickery and deceit, his victims may not have been aware that they were victims of sexual abuse. HSI requests that individuals with relevant information and parents whose children may have had any interactions with Dinizo contact the HSI in 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.

This investigation is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423 or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.