LIRR rider caught eyeing child porn — AI twist leads to 62-count indictment

A train rider’s split-second decision to start recording may have taken a predator off Long Island’s streets.

Leonard Suskin, 53, of East Northport, pleaded not guilty Monday to dozens of charges related to child sexual abuse material — including images he allegedly generated himself using artificial intelligence to warp otherwise innocent photos of children into abuse material.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced the 62-count indictment today, saying Suskin was caught in January while riding the Long Island Rail Road. The prosecutor said Suskin was openly viewing and uploading child sexual abuse images in a group chat on his phone.

A commuter sitting nearby on the train noticed the sordid images on Suskin’s screen, and used his own phone to record — through the gap between the seats — what Suskin was viewing and doing on his phone, Tierney said.

The witness also remembered where Suskin got off the train. MTA Police used that information to ultimately identify him, authorities said.

Investigators executed search warrants for Suskin’s phone and electronic devices at his home.

What investigators found on devices in his briefcase alone — a phone and flash drives — proved to be a forensic pandora’s box, authorities relayed.

Suffolk Police’s Digital Forensics Unit recovered child sexual abuse material across multiple devices used by Suskin, including images Suskin had allegedly manipulated with AI software and then uploaded to social media platforms to share with others, the district attorney said.

“This defendant allegedly sat on a commuter train and openly viewed and shared child sexual
abuse material and was caught when a fellow passenger had the courage to act,” Tierney said. “My office will prosecute anyone who exploits children in Suffolk County.”

Suskin was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis on two counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child as a sexually motivated felony, four counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, and 56 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child.

Wilutis ordered him held on $200,000 cash, $600,000 bond, or $2 million partially secured bond. He’s due back in court May 13.

Tierney noted that if convicted of the most serious charge, Suskin faces up to seven years in prison.

Tierney warned parents during his announcement of the evolving threat posed by AI.

“Predators can and do use [publicly shared] images for these purposes,” Tierney said, urging families to be cautious about what photos of their children they post online.

_{Top: Photo by Philipp Katzenberger.}