Suffolk jail guard used crypto to buy child sexual abuse material, DA says

A Suffolk County corrections officer faces charges he used crypto currency to buy child sexual abuse material, Suffolk County prosecutors said Thursday.

Robert Sorrentino, 42, of Ridge, was charged with seven counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child. Sorrentino, who also serves as a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves and is volunteer firefighter, is accused of accessing the material on his cellphone.

He was arrested Thursday and is expected to be arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified a cryptocurrency account allegedly used to purchase child sexual abuse material. A joint investigation with the Tierney’s office later linked those purchases to Sorrentino’s Ridge home address, authorities said.

Prosecutors said a search warrant executed on Sorrentino’s iPhone allegedly uncovered numerous videos depicting the sexual abuse of children between the ages of 5 and 13.

If convicted, Sorrentino faces a sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. said the allegations are disturbing and a violation of the trust placed in law enforcement.

“The alleged conduct of this employee is not only profoundly disturbing, but it is also a serious violation of the trust placed in law enforcement and the people we are sworn to protect,” he said.

“While these charges are heinous and inexcusable, they are in no way a reflection of the dedication and professionalism of the men and women of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.”

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