Yorktown resident and teacher Giuseppi Micciari, age 27, was arrested on child pornography charges and presented in White Plains federal court on Wednesday, Nov. 1, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.
According to federal officials, Micciari's arrest followed a review of his cell phone conducted by authorities that revealed the existence of several videos and pictures containing child sexual abuse material.
The review of Micciari's phone also revealed that he had used an application called Telegram, an Internet and cloud-based instant messaging service that allows users to exchange messages, share files, and hold private calls.
Some communications contained in the Telegram app on Micciari's phone included a request for an "account hack" of a student's Snapchat account, in addition to a question from an individual that read, "what age teen content you have." Micciari's alleged reply to this was, "there one big Mega 10-17," according to officials.
Micciari was identified as a teacher by a US passport application submitted in connection with the issuance of his passport. Authorities did not release information on where he is or has been employed.
Micciari is now charged with:
- One count of receipt and distribution of child pornography;
- One count of possession of child pornography.
Both counts carry a maximum prison term of 20 years, officials said.
New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ivan Arvelo said that Micciari took advantage of his position as a teacher and should "face just consequences" for his actions.
"Giuseppi Micciari was entrusted with our most vulnerable segment of society – our children. His alleged depraved acts betrayed that trust," Arvelo said.
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