Former General Superintendent Of The New York City Department Of Sanitation Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today that VICTOR ALVELO has been charged with possessing approximately thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography, including images that depict pre-pubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. ALVELO was arrested yesterday and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein in Manhattan federal court. “Victor Alvelo, the General Superintendent of the New York City Department of Sanitation (‘DSNY’), is accused of possessing thousands of images of graphic child sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Sexual abuse of children inevitably leads to irreparable harm to those innocent and vulnerable victims. Our Office is committed to pursuing justice against those who commit these unfathomable acts. Together with our partners at HSI and the NYPD’s Computer Crimes Squad, we will work tirelessly to detect predators, prosecute them, and protect our community’s children. “As a former senior public official, Victor Alvelo allegedly betrayed the confidence placed in him by the city and the public, even brazenly using his government-branded clothing to store files containing material that no person should ever possess,” said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. “Those who seek out and keep child sexual abuse material perpetuate the abuse of children and fuel a predatory market built on their exploitation. HSI New York will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement partners to identify offenders, pursue justice, and safeguard our community’s children, vulnerable populations, and the public at-large.” “Victor Alvelo allegedly possessed thousands of disturbing images of child pornography, including victims as young as 12 years old,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “The NYPD will be relentless in stopping predators who seek to exploit and harm children. I thank our investigators, including the NYPD’s Computer Crimes Squad, and law enforcement partners for finding this illegal and vile material, and working to hold this perpetrator accountable.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:(1) ALVELO served as a General Superintendent of the DSNY until his retirement in or about August 2025. From at least in or about August 2022 through on or about August 3, 2026, ALVELO possessed approximately thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography on devices within his residence. The child pornography files were found in, among other places, a USB flash drive in the front pocket of a jacket bearing DSNY insignia inside ALVELO’s residence. * * * ALVELO, 61, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of possessing child pornography, including images and videos of prepubescent minors and minors who had not attained 12 years of age, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of HSI, including the Child Exploitation Investigations Team, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the NYPD Computer Crimes Squad. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulena B. Prager is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.