United States v. Genin
Opinion
SUMMARY ORDER
Richard Genin appeals from the judgment of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Robinson, J. 1 ), denying his motion to suppress. Genin argues that the search warrant was not supported by probable cause because the warrant affidavit failed to describe sufficiently the videos that Genin had ordered from an online retailer of child pornography. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history, and the issues presented for review.
With respect to denial of the motion to suppress, we review the district court’s factual findings for clear error and review its conclusions of law de novo. See United States v. Rodriguez, 356 F.3d 254, 257 (2d Cir. 2004).
The search warrant was supported by probable cause. Although the warrant affidavit did not describe in detail the videos that Genin referenced in his e-mails to the child pornography website operator, the following information, taken together, sufficed. An FBI analyst had reviewed those videos and concluded that they met the definition of child pornography in 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(4)(B) and 2256(2)(A). “Nearly all” of the approximately 150 videos recovered from the European child pornography website operator depicted minors engaging “in sexual acts, or ... with their legs spread, or the camera lens zoomed in close on their pubic region, thereby clearly exposing the minor’s genitals.” Genin purchased a number of these videos. E-mails from Genin to the website operator referenced the ages of the girls in the videos, his desire to see “younger girls[,] and ... to see them move, not simply pose.” Genin’s e-mails demonstrate his taste for sexually charged videos.
The warrant affidavit’s specific description of these e-mails and its characterization of approximately 150 videos obtained by the FBI distinguish this case from the cases Genin cites. In those cases, the warrant affidavits contained only a perfunctory statement that the materials at issue contained “child pornography,” United States v. Groezinger, 625 F.Supp.2d 145, 149-50 (S.D.N.Y. 2009), or “children displaying a lewd and lascivious exhibition of the genitals and pubic areas,” United States v. Jasorka, 153 F.3d 58, 59 (2d Cir. 1998) (per curiam).
The warrant affidavit therefore contained sufficient facts from which the magistrate could conclude that there was “a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime w[ould] be found” in Genin’s possession. Illinois v. Gates, 462 *739 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983).
For the foregoing reasons, and finding no merit in Genin’s other arguments, we hereby AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.
. Judge Robinson decided the motion to suppress. When Judge Robinson left the bench in 2010, the case was assigned to Chief Judge Preska, who presided over the bench trial and sentencing.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Richard GENIN, Defendant-Appellant
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Unpublished