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Austin Wolf is facing at least 10 years in prison.
He faces at least 10 years in prison.
Just shy of one year since his arrest, Justin Heath Smith — the adult film performer known professionally as Austin Wolf — pleaded guilty Friday in a Manhattan federal courtroom to a felony charge of enticing a 15-year-old boy to engage in sex.
Smith, 43, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer nearly a year after his June 28, 2024, arrest following an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation operation. Prosecutors say Smith used electronic communications in late 2023 and early 2024 to lure a minor to New York City for sexual activity, according to court documents. They allege he acted in concert with another adult and knowingly crossed a legal threshold meant to protect minors from predatory conduct.
“In late 2023 or early 2024, I induced a 15-year-old to engage in a sex act, I don’t remember through text or [social media], but phones were definitely used. I know what I was doing was wrong,” an emotional Smith told the courtroom, reports the New York Post.
“I apologize. I knew it was wrong when I did it. I don’t blame anyone else for my conduct. [although] It was another person engaging in the conduct. I take full 100 percent responsibility for my actions and I am prepared for the consequences,” he added.
For years, Smith was one of the most prominent figures in gay adult entertainment—commercially successful, widely followed, and carefully branded.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life. Engelmayer has scheduled Smith’s sentencing for September 29 at 11 a.m. in the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse in lower Manhattan.
As part of the plea agreement, Smith consented to the forfeiture of more than two dozen electronic devices seized from his home during an April 2024 raid. That list includes smartphones, hard drives, and multiple Mac computers, which federal investigators say were either used in the commission of the crime or contain evidence of it.
Since his arrest, Smith has been held at MDC Brooklyn without bond. The investigation revealed what prosecutors described as “hundreds of videos” of child sexual abuse material, including content involving prepubescent children and infants. Much of the material was allegedly exchanged via the encrypted messaging platform Telegram.
At sentencing, Smith will face federal prison guidelines that start from a high baseline for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors. In addition to prison time, he may be ordered to pay a $5,000 penalty under a federal anti-trafficking law that supports services for survivors.
Christopher Wiggins is a senior national reporter for The Advocate. He has a rich career in storytelling and highlighting underrepresented voices. Growing up in a bilingual household in Germany, his German mother and U.S. Army father exposed him to diverse cultures early on, influencing his appreciation for varied perspectives and communication. His work in Washington, D.C., primarily covers the nexus of public policy, politics, law, and LGBTQ+ issues. Wiggins' reporting focuses on revealing lesser-known stories within the LGBTQ+ community. Key moments in his career include traveling with Vice President Kamala Harris and interviewing her in the West Wing about LGBTQ+ support. In addition to his national and political reporting, Wiggins represents The Advocate in the White House Press Pool and is a member of several professional journalistic organizations, including the White House Correspondents’ Association, Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, and Society of Professional Journalists. His involvement in these groups highlights his commitment to ethical journalism and excellence in the field. Follow him on X/Twitter @CWNewser (https://twitter.com/CWNewser) and Threads @CWNewserDC (https://www.threads.net/@cwnewserdc).
Christopher Wiggins is a senior national reporter for The Advocate. He has a rich career in storytelling and highlighting underrepresented voices. Growing up in a bilingual household in Germany, his German mother and U.S. Army father exposed him to diverse cultures early on, influencing his appreciation for varied perspectives and communication. His work in Washington, D.C., primarily covers the nexus of public policy, politics, law, and LGBTQ+ issues. Wiggins' reporting focuses on revealing lesser-known stories within the LGBTQ+ community. Key moments in his career include traveling with Vice President Kamala Harris and interviewing her in the West Wing about LGBTQ+ support. In addition to his national and political reporting, Wiggins represents The Advocate in the White House Press Pool and is a member of several professional journalistic organizations, including the White House Correspondents’ Association, Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, and Society of Professional Journalists. His involvement in these groups highlights his commitment to ethical journalism and excellence in the field. Follow him on X/Twitter @CWNewser (https://twitter.com/CWNewser) and Threads @CWNewserDC (https://www.threads.net/@cwnewserdc).
