SOUTHOLD MAN INDICTED FOR 50 COUNTS OF POSSESSING A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of James Gaffga, 36, of Southold, who is charged with 50 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child after he allegedly was found in possession of a hard drive containing images and videos of children, some as young as 18 months of age, being sexually abused.

“My office, along with the hard work and partnership of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Southold Town Police Department, and the Suffolk County Police Department, conducted an investigation into this defendant following a tip from the public. I urge anyone who is aware that child pornography being produced, downloaded, or traded, to contact the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office immediately. Law enforcement is fully committed to holding individuals who contribute to the sexual exploitation of innocent children accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Despite the danger that this defendant presents and the number of charges he is facing, our bail statutes do not allow my office to ask for bail. Our lawmakers need to fix these broken laws. Reform is needed to keep our communities and especially our children, safe.”

According to the investigation, between November 23, 2022 and December 16, 2022, Gaffga allegedly downloaded 50 images and videos from the internet that depict sexual abuse and the lewd exhibition of children ranging in age from approximately 18 months to 10 years old.

On March 10, 2023, Gaffga was arraigned on the indictment by County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis, for 50 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, a Class E felony.

Gaffga was ordered to be released under the supervision of the probation department with GPS monitoring, the most restrictive option available to the Court under the current bail law. Gaffga is due back in court on April 19, 2023, and is facing one and a third to four years in prison on each count if convicted. He is being represented by Steven Politi, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michelle Haddad of the Public Corruption Bureau.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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