Honk News (New York City, NY) – A man from New York is accused of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old boy he was meant to care for and sharing several videos of the abuse on the dark web.
Ramel Warner, 23, has been taken into custody and faces a charge of sexual exploitation of a child in connection with an alleged rape that occurred on January 29. This arrest follows his indictment by a grand jury, as stated in a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Warner, referred to as Menah, is accused of sexually assaulting the boy, the child of a family friend, in the boy’s home while babysitting him in 2022, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that he filmed six videos depicting his sexual abuse of the child, with one video lasting over four minutes. The footage showed Warner engaging in explicit acts with the child and was subsequently shared on the dark web.
Previously, Warner had significant access to children within educational institutions and afterschool activities in Brooklyn, as reported by the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office. During his arrest, he was participating in a dance group for underage children, which was based at a middle school in Brooklyn, according to the FBI.
Authorities in New York suspect that there could be more individuals affected in Warner’s situation. The NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is actively seeking more victims in their ongoing investigation.
On February 22, there was no immediate response from the FBI and NYPD regarding PEOPLE’s request for comment.
James E. Dennehy, the FBI Assistant Director in Charge, stated to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “Warner’s alleged actions are unconscionable, and we believe there may be more victims.”
“We ask anyone with information regarding his actions to please come forward so that we can further investigate and aid his victims,” Dennehy continued. “The FBI is committed to ensuring the safety of children and holding their abusers accountable in the criminal justice system.”
After his arrest in January, Warner remained in custody while awaiting trial. If found guilty, he could receive a sentence ranging from 15 to 30 years.
