Federal officials announced Wednesday, Aug. 5, that a 61-year-old Bronx man and former superintendent with NYC Department of Sanitation (‘DSNY’), Victor Alvelo, has been charged with possessing thousands (estimated) of images and videos depicting child pornography, including images that depict pre-pubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

 

Newly appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Pete Gizas, acting special agent in charge of the New York field office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said Alvelo was arrested Aug. 4 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 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.”

 

For his part, Gizas said, “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.” 

 

He added, “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.”

 

Meanwhile, the police commissioner said in part, “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, 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, prosecutors said he allegedly possessed thousands of images and videos (estimated) depicting child pornography on devices in his home. Prosecutors said 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 home.

 

Alvelo 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 is provided for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

 

McDonald praised what he described as the outstanding work of HSI, including the Child Exploitation Investigations Team, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the NYPD Computer Crimes Squad.

 

The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulena B. Prager is leading the prosecution. The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.