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Long Island resident Jose Saez Jr., 29, of Brentwood, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child in Central Islip federal court on Tuesday, March 11, following an investigation by the Justice Department’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative.
Saez, a father of three and former pastor at Brentwood’s Iglesia Cristiana Alumbrando El Camino Church, admitted to using an encrypted messaging service to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors and with a law enforcement officer posing as a child.
During one conversation with the undercover officer in August 2023, Saez stated that he had sexually abused an infant, and that his “sweet spot” was molesting children between the ages of 11 and 15, according to federal prosecutors.
He further admitted that he was able to find his younger victims at “church.”
An FBI search of Saez’ Brentwood residence the following September turned up numerous photos and videos of child pornography that he had solicited from minors, prosecutors said. Saez also confessed to police that he encouraged a minor to produce child pornography and send it to him.
“The defendant not only admitted to sexually abusing young children, but also discussed his church and his congregants as targets of additional abuse,” said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Leslie Backschies. “His sustained exploitation of children—in person and online—is clear, and this plea is a step forward on the road to justice for his victims.”
Saez now faces between 15 and 30 years in federal prison when he’s sentenced at a later date.
Prosecutors asked anyone with information about Saez’ crimes to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000.
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