Midville Man Busted With Child Porn Stash
Cuffed by federal agents last Wednesday, Jan. 23, for allegedly acquiring child pornography online, a Middle Village man reportedly admitted to agents that he spied on children as they exited the elementary school across the street from his residence.
Federal law enforcement sources said thatAnthony Spagnuolo, 49, was taken into custody after agents raided his home adjacent to P.S./I.S. 49-located in the vicinity of Penelope Avenue and 79th Street-last Wednesday morning during a courtauthorized search.
According to the criminal complaint provided by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, authorities had been investigating Spagnuolo for allegedly downloading explicit images of minors engaged in sex.
The New York Daily News reported that Spagnuolo is employed by the city Department of Transportation.
During their raid last Wednesday, law enforcement sources said, mem- of the FBI’s New York office recovered from Spagnuolo’s home two computers and several external hard drives.
One of the external drives- which, according to the criminal complaint, had an adhesive label marked with a black X-was reportedly found to contain images of child pornography.
Federal agents noted in the complaint that some of the children in the images were between two and six years old.
While being interviewed by the FBI, law enforcement sources stated, Spagnuolo allegedly admitted to downloading the images. He also reportedly told investigators that he regularly spied on children as they exited P.S./I.S. 49, using binoculars and a monocular to peer at them.
Spagnuolo remains in federal custody without bail after being arraigned last week, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta Lynch.
The investigation is ongoing.
