24
COURIER LIFE, APRIL 8-14, 2022
BY BEN BRACHFELD
A Midwood man could face
more than 15 years behind bars
for soliciting sexually explicit
content from minors he met online.
Federal prosecutors and FBI
agents in Brooklyn unsealed
a criminal complaint April 5
against 49-year-old Steven La-
Bianca, of East Third Street
in Midwood, alleging he solicited
reams of sexually explicit
photos and videos from girls as
young as 13.
“The behavior in which we
allege Mr. Labianca engaged
— soliciting and receiving sexually
explicit images and videos
from children as young as
13 — is depraved, and it underscores
the dangers children may
face online,” said FBI Assistant
Director-in-Charge Michael
Driscoll in a statement. “The action
we’ve taken today will ensure
Mr. Labianca faces justice
for his crimes, but our investigation
continues.”
LaBianca allegedly communicated
with scores of teenage
girls online between 2017
and 2021, under the usernames
“Original Geek” on Skype and
“haulsropefasterr” on Instagram,
according to a sworn deposition
by FBI Special Agent
Michael Buscemi, who investigated
the case.
LaBianca initiated conversations
with girls from all over
the world he met online, breaking
the ice by discussing, in at
least one case, Harry Potter and
the girl’s high school schedule,
apparently with the knowledge
that she was underage.
Conversations gradually escalated
to become extremely
sexually explicit, with LaBianca
instructing his victims to supply
him with nude photographs
and videos of them masturbating.
LaBianca allegedly gave
highly specific instructions
stipulating the poses he wanted
of his victims, and on some occasions
even suggested bringing
other girls into the fold for a
“three-way.”
One of the victims, a resident
of Cyprus, contacted that country’s
authorities, who then contacted
the FBI.
That girl was in communication
with LaBianca between 2017
and 2019, between the ages of 15
and 17; she provided communications
with and pictures of the
perp to the FBI, who visited his
Midwood home and confirmed
he was Original Geek.
LaBianca was arrested Tuesday
morning and is facing pretrial
arraignment before a federal
judge. He faces a mandatory
minimum of 15 years in the big
house. US Attorney Breon Peace
said the case underscored the
importance of ensuring children’s
s The federal courthouse in Downtown Brooklyn. Photo by Ajay Suresh via Flickr afety on the Internet.
Busted!
Feds bust Midwood perv on
child pornography charges
Blended
APY1 0.40% 0.21%
Flushing Bank’s Complete Money Market account is perfect for customers who want to keep their funds liquid while earning a higher rate. To qualify
for the Complete Money Market account, you must also have or open a Flushing Bank Complete Checking account.1,2 With Complete Checking,
you have access to over 55,000 ATMs, ATM fee rebates, mobile banking, and mobile check deposit. Plus, new Complete Checking customers
can qualify for additional cash bonuses.3 To open a new Complete Money Market account in minutes, visit your local Flushing Bank branch.
For a list of nearby branches and hours, go to FlushingBank.com.
Small enough to know you.
Large enough to help you.®
1) New Complete Money Market account with new money only. To qualify for this offer you must maintain a Complete Checking account with a minimum monthly balance of $5,000. Existing consumer money market account customers are not eligible. New
money is defined as money not currently on deposit with Flushing Bank. The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective January 14, 2022. The interest rate is guaranteed for a 90-day period from the date of account opening. For daily balances of $24,999
or less, the guaranteed interest rate is 0.00% with an APY of 0.00%; for daily balances of $25,000 to $74,999 the 90-day guaranteed interest rate is 0.40% with a blended APY of 0.21%; for daily balances of $75,000 to $99,999 the 90-day guaranteed
interest rate is 0.40% with a blended APY of 0.21%; and for daily balances of $100,000 or more the 90-day guaranteed interest rate is 0.45% with a blended APY of 0.26%. After the guaranteed rate period, the APY will be set at the default rate in effect at
that time for the Complete Money Market account. Fees may reduce earnings. Other than as described above, at our discretion, rates may change at any time without notice. You must maintain the required daily balance for the statement cycle to receive the
respective disclosed yield. You must deposit a minimum of $5,000 to open this account. A low balance service charge of $15.00 will be imposed every month if the balance in the Complete Money Market account falls below $5,000 any day of the month.
The rate and offer are subject to change and early termination without prior notice at any time. 2) A Flushing Bank Complete Checking account with a minimum monthly balance of $5,000 is required to receive the advertised rate. Certain fees, minimum
balance requirements, and restrictions may apply. Fees may reduce earnings on these accounts. A checking account is not required for IRA accounts. 3) The Customer Value Program (CVP) is limited to one (1) new Complete Checking account per customer.
New money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. A new checking account is defined as any new checking account that does not have any authorized signatures in common with any other existing Flushing Bank checking account(s). An
existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. New money is defined as money not currently on deposit with Flushing Bank. The Flushing Bank CVP
consists of two bonus programs: the CVP Account Balance bonus and the CVP Activation bonus. Please speak with a Flushing Bank representative for additional and program specific details including balance and transaction requirements.
Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
Complete Money Market
Guaranteed interest rate for the first 90 days
on balances of $25,000 or more1
Follow us on
®
Complete access. Complete control. Complete Banking.
/FlushingBank.com
