Philanthropist charged with molesting Russian dance student, 12, bringing boy back to Philly

Man charged in Pa. with molesting Russian preteen

PHILADELPHIA — Federal authorities say a philanthropist traveled to Russia to have sex with a 12-year-old dancer and brought the boy back to the United States.

Kenneth Schneider, founder of the New York-based Apogee Foundation, was arrested March 27 in Larnaca, Cyprus. He has been charged with traveling for the purpose of engaging in sex with a minor and transporting a person for criminal sexual conduct.

U.S. Attorney Michael Levy says Schneider had sex with the boy while helping out at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography in the summer of 1998. They say Schneider brought the boy back to Philadelphia in 2001 for a summer program.

Levy says Schneider “used his wealth and position as a supporter of the arts to victimize a young dancer.”

Schneider’s attorney, Joseph McHale, said his client will defend himself against what he called “these false allegations.”