Ukrainian Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Olena Kalichenko, a citizen of Ukraine, was sentenced by United States Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco to 20 years’ imprisonment, following her April 2016 guilty plea to conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, sexual exploitation of a child, production of child pornography for importation into the United States, and transportation of child pornography.  Upon completion of her prison sentence, Kalichenko will be required to register as a sex offender, and faces deportation to Ukraine.  Kalichenko was arrested in July 2014, when she traveled to the United States.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.

 “The defendant’s lengthy prison sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who victimizes children by producing and trafficking child pornography, on the internet or otherwise: You will be identified, apprehended, prosecuted and punished,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  Mr. Donoghue thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) for their assistance in this case.

Between April 2012 and November 2012, Kalichenko produced 46 custom-made videos of child pornography, scripted by co-defendant Joseph Valerio, depicting a two-year-old girl in Ukraine.  In exchange for thousands of dollars, Kalichenko emailed the videos to Valerio, who resided in Smithtown, Long Island.  In January 2014, FBI agents and SCPD officers executed a search warrant at Valerio’s residence and found hidden cameras, costumes, a wooden stage, computers and other electronic devices.  A forensic examination of the computers and electronic devices revealed that Valerio had produced child pornography in the basement of his house involving a six-year-old girl. 

Valerio was convicted by a federal jury in November 2014 of conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, sexually exploiting a child, and transporting, receiving and possessing child pornography.  He was subsequently sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment. 

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Ameet B. Kabrawala and Allen L. Bode are in charge of the prosecution. 

The Defendants:

Olena Kalichenko
Age: 32
Ukraine

Joseph Valerio
Age:  52
Smithtown, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 14 CR 94 (JFB)

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 14 CR 95 (JFB)