A married Nassau County health care executive allegedly preyed on nearly a dozen teen girls to produce child porn over a four-year period — including two minors he ordered to call him “daddy” and paid in exchange for the sickening content.
Jacob Walden, 38, was arraigned Wednesday morning in Central Islip Federal Court on a six-count indictment charging him with the sexual exploitation of two teens — ages 16 and 17 — he pressured to create sexually explicit videos and photos, according to the US Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York.
Feds recovered the disturbing images from Walden’s cellphone last April and identified at least 11 girls, as young as 14 years old, whom he contacted, coerced to send inappropriate content and paid, according to court documents.
The 16- and 17-year-old victims were located and interviewed during an investigation feds launched in September 2023.
“As alleged, the defendant enticed minors to produce sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves and send them to him via the internet in exchange for payment,” United States Attorney John J. Durham said in a statement.
“Protecting children from predators who sexually exploit them will always be a priority of my Office.”
Investigators further found Walden, a father of five, repeatedly purchased at least 500 images and 5,000 videos depicting rape, bestiality and the abuse of toddler-aged children from a large-scale production and distribution ring that advertised to adult male buyers in the US and aboard, according to court docs.
Law enforcement also recovered an encrypted conversation on Walden’s phone arranging the purchase of two child porn packages — one of which was advertised to include “4-19, FAMILY, SOLO, RAPE, MIXED” content, the documents state.
Prosecutors said at least 20,500 files of child porn were found in Walden’s cloud storage, court docs revealed.
Walden, the co-owner and managing partner of Emerald Healthcare, a company that manages nursing and assisted living facilities nationwide, remained in contact with his child victims between 2020 and 2024.
In his conversations with the two teens referenced in the indictment — referred to as Jane Doe # 1 and Jane Doe # 2 — Walden reportedly insisted he be addressed as “daddy” and provided directions on the sexual acts he wanted the victims to perform.
He then paid them electronically after he received the alarming content, according to court documents.
Walden was arrested on July 31, 2024, and was ordered to home confinement at his $2 million Valley Stream residence, with restrictions placed on his electronic devices and his contact with minors.
The accused sicko violated his conditions within a month of his arrest after investigators discovered he made an unauthorized stop at a Verizon store and offered a woman money for sex on WhatsApp, prosecutors said.
Walden is being held without bail until his trial at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, according to law enforcement sources, after prosecutors argued he is a flight risk and a danger to society.
He joins high-profile perps, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Luigi Mangione, who are also imprisoned at the Brooklyn facility.
“For years the defendant has enticed individuals, typically minor females in exchange for payment to produce child pornography for him,” US Trial Attorney Leonid Sandlar said.
“The totality of the defendant’s voluminous submissions does not rebut the defendant’s motivation of flight. Or dangerousness.”
Walden’s counsel, Benjamin Baufman, argued his client’s compulsions stem from his own abuse as a child, pressing the court that dozens of religious members of the Orthodox Community have begged for “leniency and compassion.”
“He has five children and a wife who is present in court,” Baufman said.
“They are supportive even in light of the charges.”
Judge Gary Brown, who presided over the arraignment, agreed Walden should remain locked up.
Walden, on his personal blog, describes himself as an avid volunteer who is deeply committed to giving back to his community and a founding member of a local synagogue who launched his career in 2008 helping at-risk teens.
Walden described himself as a man of “diverse interest and hobbies that enrich his life and provide a sense of balance,” and said growing up in Monsey played “a significant role in shaping his values and character.”
“Jacob Walden’s life story is a powerful reminder that greatness is not defined by fame or acclaim but by the impact one has on the world and the people around them,” he wrote on his website.
“His unwavering commitment to his values, resilience in the face of challenges, and dedication to personal and professional growth make him a true example of what it means to lead an extraordinary life.”
Walden is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and two counts of access with intent to view child pornography, according to the indictment.
If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison, prosecutors said.
He is due back in court on Feb. 24.
If you have been sexually assaulted and live in New York, you can call 1-800-942-6906 for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the state, you can dial the 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
