Robert Ianuale. (Facebook)
The owner of a live-broadcasting website called SwerveCast is facing several felony charges after prosecutors say he engaged in the prostitution of juvenile females and tried to lure online viewers to rape a woman and stream it live.
Robert J. Ianule, 32, who goes by the nickname “Fist Pump” on YouTube, SwerveCast and elsewhere online, was arrested during a Monday raid on his Hazlet, New Jersey, home, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release.
He was charged with two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child by causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, first-degree promoting prostitution of a minor, first-degree use of a juvenile to commit a crime, second-degree engangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child pornography), third-degree engandering the welfare of a child (possession of child pornography), third-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity and third-degree luring or enticing an adult.
The suspect’s brother, Philip Ianule, 30, was arrested during the same Monday raid on charges of fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law, third-degree resisting arrest and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, the prosecutor’s office said.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He Allowed Juveniles to ‘Engage in Sexual Acts’ During Live Broadcasts for Paid Subscribers, Prosecutors Say
Robert Ianuale. (Facebook)
Robert Ianuale is accused of allowing “juvenile females to engage in sexual acts during broadcasts available only to users who paid to view the online broadcasts,” on his website, SwerveCast, which he is the owner and operator of, prosecutors said in a press release.
The viewers could “tip” the girls “using virtual currency that was under the control of Ianuale, and he would pay a percentage of the tipped amount to the juvenile girls in exchange for performing sex acts online,” prosecutors say.
The victims in the case are a 14-year-old girl from Maryland and a 14-year-old girl from Middlesex County, New Jersey, prosecutors say. Investigators say there may be other victims and have asked for the public’s help:
Investigators believe there may be other victims and are asking anyone who witnessed similar behavior or knows of a juvenile who may have participated in similar broadcasts on SwerveCast to call Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective John Sosdian at 732-431-7160 ext. 6592.
Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous, but has information about SwerveCast or Ianuale may contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers’ confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; or texting “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.
“Profiting off of the sexual abuse of juveniles is intolerable. We cannot allow innocent children to fall prey to online abusers and predators seeking to line their pockets through the sexual exploitation of their victims. We will prosecute all such defendants to the fullest extent of the law,” Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a statement.
2. He Is Accused of Offering $100 in Exchange for the Live Rape of a New York City Woman
(Facebook)
The investigation began in May 2015, when Ianuale, using his online nickname “Fist Pump,” engaged in an online broadcast where he “attempted to lure or entice individuals watching his broadcast to sexually assault a 25-year-old New York City woman outside her place of employment,” prosecutors said.
He offered $100 to anyone who would rape the woman and broadcast it live, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Ianuale is being held on $450,000 cash only bail and ordered to have no contact with his victims.
Prosecutors say Ianuale faces up to 20 years in state prison on the first-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and is subject to the “No Early Release Act,” requiring him to serve 85 percent of the imposed sentence before he could be released on parole. He is also subject to the “Megan’s Law” and parole supervision for life if after release.
The investigation was led by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Homeland Security Investigations division of the Department of Homeland Security. It also included the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Hazlet Police Department, the Freehold Township Police Department, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Hazlet Township Animal Control.
3. He Was the Target of a Swatting Incident Last April
Ianuale was the target of a live “swatting” incident last April. “Swatting” is when someone calls police and tells them a crime is occurring at a residence in order to prompt a large police response, despite there being no actual crime.
He told Fox 5 New York he had been “Swatted” multiple times.
“Out of nowhere I hear in the back ‘Police!’ I’m just like what? I turn around and I see police officers coming through the door and three or four with automatic rifles and bullet proof vests,” he said of one incident.
His testimony helped lawmakers pass an anti-Swatting bill last year.
4. He Taunted a Commenter Who Accused the Site of Selling Child Porn, Calling it a ‘False Accusation’
(Facebook)
Ianuale, on his SwerveCast Twitter account, taunted an online commenter who publicly accused the website of promoting child pornography.
He also boasted on his SwerveCast profile that he “cannot be banned,” because he owns the site.
He tweeted about a “rebirth” of “Fist Pump” on Easter:
Ianuale founded SwerveCast last July 2015 after suing the live-streaming website YouNow, according to a press release on his website.
He said his Fist Pump page made $100,000 for You Now in three months and had more than 56,000 fans. He was banned from the website, and he claims the site’s owners made defamatory statements against him. Multiple videos were posted on YouTube complaining about his behavior on You Now, including the one below:
“I believe everyone should have the ability to be paid for their content. It shouldn’t matter if you have 10 fans or 100,000 fans. Everyone should be able to make money from broadcasting by putting their life in the public eye,” Ianuale said.
5. He Graduated From the New York Institute of Technology in 2008
(Facebook)
Ianuale graduated from the New York Institute of Technology in 2008 with a degree in computer science, according to his Linkedin page.
He was raised in Hazlet, New Jersey, and graduated from Raritan High School in 2002.
He claims to have been working in Internet-related fields since 1999.
“I have been involved in Internet consulting, strategy and web development since 1999. Formerly a consultant for major Fortune 500 companies, I have worked in financial industries, web markets and various other industrial paths. I take a special interest in information architecture and usability issues,” he writes.
He also started Fist Pump Shirts in 2011:
If you think we are just a t-shirt brand. You’d be wrong. We’re much more than that! Not only are we a t-shirt brand, but we are also a marketing & promotions company specializing in high-quality custom shirts for your events. We create cutting-edge custom designs for venues, events, custom DJ shirts, bar attire, staff shirts, and more! We have years of nightlife and industry experience with the know-how on how help you succeed and reach your marketing goals.
He started the company Resorb Networks, Inc. in 1999.
