A Suffolk County corrections officer has been arrested and charged with possessing child sexual abuse material, authorities announced.
Robert Sorrentino, 42, of Ridge, was taken into custody on April 16 following an investigation involving federal and local law enforcement. According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, Sorrentino is accused of accessing illicit material on his cellphone, including videos depicting the abuse of children.
Sorrentino, who is employed by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, is also an active member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves and a volunteer firefighter in Ridge. Officials emphasized that the charges do not reflect on the broader law enforcement community.
“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,” said Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. in a statement. He added that the department is cooperating fully with prosecutors.
Investigators said the case began when the FBI identified a cryptocurrency account allegedly used to purchase illegal material. Authorities traced the activity to Sorrentino’s residence, where a search warrant was executed. Prosecutors allege that a review of his iPhone uncovered numerous files involving children between the ages of five and 13.
Sorrentino has been charged with seven counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, all Class E felonies. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court.
Under New York law, the charges are not eligible for bail, meaning he will be released pending trial under standard conditions. Tierney criticized the state’s bail laws, arguing they limit judicial discretion in serious cases.
If convicted, Sorrentino faces a potential sentence of 1⅓ to four years in prison. He is represented by attorney Michael Brown. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review additional digital evidence further.