The depraved Manhattan dentist who was busted for distributing kiddie porn and intentionally trying to spread HIV was ironically an advocate for AIDS victims in the late 1980s.
John Wallace Wolf, 59, was a leading expert on dental practices and AIDS patients, even lecturing on the disease at New York University’s Dental School and at three national American Dental Association conventions.
“My mother has sat in my chair right after I treated an AIDS patient,” Wolf told The Post in January 1988.
That year, Wolf took Dr. Lawerence Barton — another Manhattan dentist who sublet office space to Wolf — to court, claiming he had terminated his lease because he was treating people with HIV.
It was the first AIDS discrimination case in New York City history to ever go to public hearing.
Wolf, a former member of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, claimed that Barton had approached him in 1985 after receiving a call from an AIDS patient and insisted that he stop seeing people who were HIV positive.
Barton later denied these allegations and called the case a “blackmail situation,” claiming he had previously treated AIDS patients himself. Despite this, he was eventually fined $15,000 for terminating the lease.
“I hope this will give AIDS patients, dentists and doctors hope that the system is backing them and they don’t have to turn away an AIDS patient or have to move,” Wolf said at the time.
Outside his apartment building in the Village on Friday, residents described Wolf as benevolent man who seemed pretty ordinary.
“I knew he was gay, but he’s a nice guy,” said Isaac Sadikov, a 45-year-old barber who works across the street.
“I used to cut his hair,” he explained. “He’s a quiet guy. He was always passing by on the street, doing some grocery shopping. Big time surprise. He was like a normal guy.”
‘Big time surprise. He was like a normal guy.’
- Isaac Sadikov, neighbor
Jorge Rueda, 53, owner of the nearby Pop the Cork wine shop, agreed.
“Wow, you never know!” he said. “He would buy red wine normally, different kinds. I haven’t seen him in like a week. He seemed normal, he passed by on the street, we always said hi. He wasn’t really very social. Very courteous, but that’s it. He looked like very reserved.”
A patient who did not want to give his name also described Wolf as a pleasant man to be around.
“I’ve been a patient of his for many years,” he said. “I know him as a nice man. I was always happy with his work. I’m going to have to call the office to see what’s going on.”
Wolf has been charged with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession and distribution of child porn.
He is also accused of engaging in rampant sex parties with animals in Brooklyn and Manhattan, including a dog on one occasion, according to federal law enforcement sources.
A notice of his arrest has been posted on Yelp, asking anyone who may have been victimized to call the FBI.