Former Bank Executive, Edward Gene Smith, Charged With Committing Multiple Sex Crimes, Child Pornography Offenses, And Obstruction Of Justice

Press Release Former Bank Executive, Edward Gene Smith, Charged With Committing Multiple Sex Crimes, Child Pornography Offenses, And Obstruction Of Justice Tuesday, December 23, 2025 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the filing of a Superseding Indictment charging EDWARD GENE SMITH with drugging a female victim (“Victim-1”) with the intent to rape her, sex trafficking another female victim (“Victim-2”), enticing Victim-2 to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity, receipt and possession of child pornography, and obstruction of justice. SMITH is detained, awaiting trial before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. Trial is scheduled to begin on February 23, 2026.“As alleged, Edward Gene Smith systematically preyed on vulnerable young women,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He allegedly sexually assaulted young women, drugging and raping them, often recording his abuse in photographs and videos. Smith also allegedly possessed horrific images and videos of child sexual abuse and, when the investigation closed in, attempted to obstruct justice by paying one of his victims to sign a false document. New Yorkers want those who exploit and abuse vulnerable victims brought to justice and we are committed to doing so. We encourage any additional victims to come forward by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.”“Smith targeted and abused vulnerable young women by drugging, raping, and sexually assaulting them before exploiting their image on an encrypted messaging platform, as alleged,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “Our investigation also revealed alleged possession of child pornography and an attempt by Smith to obstruct justice. As demonstrated today, the FBI remains relentless in our pursuit to root out those who prey on vulnerable victims and predators who defile the likeness of children through these heinous acts.”According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment and in other public statements and filings:[1]From at least in or about 2019 to at least in or about April 2023, SMITH, a senior finance executive of a major U.S. bank, targeted young women on the Internet and enticed them to meet with him at his Central Park South residence and other locations. On multiple occasions, SMITH drugged his victims without their consent or knowledge, sexually abused them while they were incapacitated or unconscious, and photographed or recorded his abuse.At least on or about April 23, 2023, SMITH drugged and raped Victim-1 in his Central Park South residence. SMITH then shared a video of himself digitally penetrating Victim-1, who was nude and incapacitated or unconscious, with others via an encrypted messaging platform, on a channel that was dedicated to sharing depictions of incapacitated or unconscious women in sexually exploitative positions.Previously, in or about 2020, SMITH persuaded Victim-2, who SMITH had met a few months prior when Victim-2 was a college student, to relocate to New York City. SMITH controlled her finances, social life, and activities, and repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted her over the course of several months.From at least in or about 2019 to at least in or about June 2024, SMITH also possessed and/or received a large volume of images and videos of children being sexually abused on his personal devices.Finally, in or about August 2024, after a search warrant was executed at his residence, revealing that SMITH possessed child pornography on his electronic devices, SMITH paid a victim thousands of dollars to sign a false document in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.If you have been victimized by the EDWARD GENE SMITH in any way or have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.* * *SMITH, 50, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance with intent to commit rape, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of enticement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Remy Grosbard, Rita Maxwell, Daniel Richenthal, and Joe Zabel are in charge of the prosecution.The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated December 29, 2025 Attachment u.s._v._smith_indictment.pdf [PDF, 405 KB] Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-288

Press Release Former Bank Executive, Edward Gene Smith, Charged With Committing Multiple Sex Crimes, Child Pornography Offenses, And Obstruction Of Justice Tuesday, December 23, 2025 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the filing of a Superseding Indictment charging EDWARD GENE SMITH with drugging a female victim (“Victim-1”) with the intent to rape her, sex trafficking another female victim (“Victim-2”), enticing Victim-2 to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity, receipt and possession of child pornography, and obstruction of justice. SMITH is detained, awaiting trial before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. Trial is scheduled to begin on February 23, 2026.“As alleged, Edward Gene Smith systematically preyed on vulnerable young women,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He allegedly sexually assaulted young women, drugging and raping them, often recording his abuse in photographs and videos. Smith also allegedly possessed horrific images and videos of child sexual abuse and, when the investigation closed in, attempted to obstruct justice by paying one of his victims to sign a false document. New Yorkers want those who exploit and abuse vulnerable victims brought to justice and we are committed to doing so. We encourage any additional victims to come forward by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.”“Smith targeted and abused vulnerable young women by drugging, raping, and sexually assaulting them before exploiting their image on an encrypted messaging platform, as alleged,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “Our investigation also revealed alleged possession of child pornography and an attempt by Smith to obstruct justice. As demonstrated today, the FBI remains relentless in our pursuit to root out those who prey on vulnerable victims and predators who defile the likeness of children through these heinous acts.”According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment and in other public statements and filings:[1]From at least in or about 2019 to at least in or about April 2023, SMITH, a senior finance executive of a major U.S. bank, targeted young women on the Internet and enticed them to meet with him at his Central Park South residence and other locations. On multiple occasions, SMITH drugged his victims without their consent or knowledge, sexually abused them while they were incapacitated or unconscious, and photographed or recorded his abuse.At least on or about April 23, 2023, SMITH drugged and raped Victim-1 in his Central Park South residence. SMITH then shared a video of himself digitally penetrating Victim-1, who was nude and incapacitated or unconscious, with others via an encrypted messaging platform, on a channel that was dedicated to sharing depictions of incapacitated or unconscious women in sexually exploitative positions.Previously, in or about 2020, SMITH persuaded Victim-2, who SMITH had met a few months prior when Victim-2 was a college student, to relocate to New York City. SMITH controlled her finances, social life, and activities, and repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted her over the course of several months.From at least in or about 2019 to at least in or about June 2024, SMITH also possessed and/or received a large volume of images and videos of children being sexually abused on his personal devices.Finally, in or about August 2024, after a search warrant was executed at his residence, revealing that SMITH possessed child pornography on his electronic devices, SMITH paid a victim thousands of dollars to sign a false document in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.If you have been victimized by the EDWARD GENE SMITH in any way or have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.* * *SMITH, 50, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance with intent to commit rape, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of enticement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Remy Grosbard, Rita Maxwell, Daniel Richenthal, and Joe Zabel are in charge of the prosecution.The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated December 29, 2025 Attachment u.s._v._smith_indictment.pdf [PDF, 405 KB] Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-288