FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A Parkland pediatrician facing some disturbing child pornography charges has posted bond.
On Wednesday morning, 49-year-old Dr. Michael Mizrachy faced a judge during a virtual Zoom call.
Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives said they have been investigating Mizrachy since June 2020 after receiving a tip that he was distributing child pornography.
“We received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a video of child pornography that was downloaded to an email,” said BSO detective Andrea Tianga.
According to detectives, Mizrachy downloaded a video that showed a child between the ages of 8 and 10 having sex with an adult male.
Investigators then searched his Parkland home in the Miralago development.
The pediatrician is also accused of using the app Kik to chat and exchange explicit photos with a 15-year-old.
“But the search warrant at his residence led to the initial video that was downloaded that depicted child pornography. In addition to the photos that were surreptitiously taken of what appeared to be juvenile guests at his house, we also found evidence that we’re looking into of him chatting online with possibly a teenager,” Tianga said.
Detectives said the pictures showed children in bathing suits, underwear or shorts — possibly his own daughter’s friends.
Mizrachy was fired from West Broward Pediatrics after they learned of the investigation.
The office released a statement saying in part, “We are shocked and deeply disturbed by these accusations. Dr. Mizrachy’s employment was terminated last year and he is no longer associated with our practice. We have no evidence that any crimes were committed in the course of his professional duties.”
“It’s shock— it doesn’t even get to the word. It’s horrifying as a parent to know that someone we entrusted our children with is not the person you think they are,” said a former patient’s mother.
He faces two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of computer pornography.
Mizrachy has since posted his $30,000 bond and has been ordered to not have any contact with any children at all except for his biological children, which will be supervised by their mother, who filed for divorce from him in November.
BSO is asking anyone with information regarding this case or anyone whose child may have been a victim of Mizrachy to contact their Internet Crimes Against Children Office at 954-888-1570 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.