Chester County lawyer convicted in sex-tourism case

A wealthy Chester County lawyer was convicted by a federal court jury Friday of going to Russia to engage in a sexual relationship with an underage boy.

Kenneth Schneider, 46, of Berwyn, offered in 1998 to assist Roman Zavarov, then 12, whose parents could no longer afford to pay his board at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Schneider then persuaded the boy's parents to allow their child to move into an apartment with him.

Prosecutors said Schneider began a sexual relationship with Zavarov and brought him to Philadelphia for a summer program in 2001, then returned to Moscow to continue the sexual relationship.

Zavarov, now 24, testified against Schneider. The criminal case arose from a civil suit filed against Schneider in 2008 by Zavarov, who is now a professional ballet dancer in Arizona.

In his suit, Zavarov alleged that the sexual relationship continued until 2006. At his criminal trial, Schneider denied ever having illegal sex with Zavarov.

Schneider, founder of the Apogee Foundation, promoted himself as an international benefactor of artistically creative youth. He grew up in Berwyn but was living in London before his arrest.

He was apprehended March 27 in Cyprus by Interpol agents and extradited to the United States. The case was investigated by U.S. authorities, as well as the Investigative Committee of the General Procuracy of the Russian Federation.

Schneider was convicted of traveling for the purpose of having sex with a minor and transporting a person for criminal sexual conduct. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12 before U.S. District Judge Juan R. Sánchez. He faces a combined maximum 25 years in prison.