A Southold man pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography that he had stored on his hard drive. Some of the children in these images and videos who were sexually abused were as young as one-and-a-half years old.
On December 16, 2022, James Gaffga, 36, was in possession of at least 50 images and videos that depicted the sexual abuse and the lewd exhibition of children ranging in age from approximately 18 months to 10 years old. Gaffga admitted that he had viewed these images and videos and was aware of the nature and content of each of them.
On January 31, 2024, Gaffga pleaded guilty before County Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis to the entire indictment, charging him with 50 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, all Class E felonies.
Following a pre-plea investigation by probation, Gaffga was sentenced on January 31, 2024 to a split sentence of 60 days jail and 10 years of probation. Gaffga will have to register as a sex
offender.
“People like this defendant who support the sexual exploitation of minors through possession of child pornography have no place in Suffolk County,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “My office will continue to partner with local and federal law enforcement officials to make sure that offenders who download and view child pornography are held accountable for their crimes.”