New York imam busted in civilian child sex abuse sting

The Bobster

Senior News Editor since 2004

New York imam busted in civilian child sex abuse sting​



By
Gabrielle Fonrouge


December 16, 2021 5:21pm
Updated









Ahmet Yuceturk, prominent local imam busted in child sex abuse sting













A New York imam was charged with attempted child sex abuse raps after he was busted in a civilian sting operation that exposes pedophiles on YouTube, The Post has learned.
Ahmet Yuceturk, who was previously the imam at JFK Airport’s International Islamic Center, was arrested Monday for sexting with an individual he believed was 14 years old and making plans to meet up with her, police and prosecutors said.
The 42-year-old Long Island resident was charged with two felony counts for attempted criminal sex act with a minor and attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor, court records show.
Yuceturk was originally caught in the crosshairs of the YouTube page “NYCreeps Spotlight” — a modern-day version of the NBC show “To Catch a Predator” — that aims to lure in pedophiles on social media apps by posing as teenagers, the page’s creator “FM” told The Post.
Ahmet Yuceturk being arrested by police. Ahmet Yuceturk was arrested during a civilian sting operation that exposes pedophiles on the creator’s YouTube page. Youtube
The creator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and previously busted a Department of Homeless Services police officer, said he and adult women pose as teens on social media apps and wait for older men to reach out to the accounts so they can be exposed on his YouTube page.
In late November, Yuceturk allegedly messaged one of the accounts and told the “teen” he was 40, according to records of the texts, which were turned over to the NYPD.
When the apparent girl told Yuceturk she was 14 years old, he allegedly wrote back: “Call me daddy as I f–k the s–t out of you,” his criminal complaint states.
Ahmet Yuceturk Yuceturk was previously the imam at JFK Airport’s International Islamic Center.Youtube
“I want you badly can we pull it off this weekend?… Will mom be away this weekend?” the religious leader allegedly told her as he described a variety of sex acts he wanted to do with her, court records show.
“I want to soap and wash you,” one of the messages said, according to Yuceturk’s criminal complaint.
FM sets up in-person meetings with the creeps he chats with and once they agree, he confronts them, records the interaction and posts the videos to his YouTube page. The vigilante often turns over his findings to the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies, but charges have only been brought a handful of times.
In Yuceturk’s case, the charges came when the NYPD happened to show up as FM was following the imam down a Bronx street and recording him, asking him why he made plans to meet up with a 14-year-old, video shows.
Ahmet Yuceturk being arrested by police.Ahmet Yuceturk was arrested Monday for sexting with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old.Youtube
When officers from the 52nd Precinct approached the two men, Yuceturk claimed FM was harassing him, but the YouTuber explained he runs an organization that catches online predators seeking to meet with little girls.
“Do you have evidence?” an officer asked FM in the clip.
Following Yuceturk’s arrest, cops obtained surveillance footage that showed him knocking on the apartment door the apparent teen gave him after they made plans to meet up, court records say.
Ahmet Yuceturk being confronted by police. Ahmet Yuceturk confronted police, saying he was being harassed, before the YouTube vigilante told police why Yuceturk was being followed. Youtube
FM, a father of four daughters, said he traps pedophiles because he was nearly sexually abused as a child and he wants to make sure it doesn’t happen to other kids.
“It’s great getting these guys off the street because you never know who’s who. He’s an imam, a spiritual leader, a voice in the community, he’s a pillar of the community,” FM told The Post by phone.
“To see what they’re doing behind closed doors is ridiculous and I take pleasure in taking them down one by one.”
Yuceturk, who has been featured in Port Authority of New York and New Jersey blog posts and quoted in Time magazine and the New York Times, was released on his own recognizance following his arraignment and is due back in court in January.
He didn’t return a request for comment.
 
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