Long Island Pastor Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Jose Saez, Jr., a pastor at Iglesia Cristiana Alumbrando El Camino church located in Brentwood, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 210 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a child. Saez communicated with minor victims over the internet, coerced them into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves, and coerced a minor to engage in sexual acts with the defendant at a public park on Long Island. Saez pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2025.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

"Today's lengthy sentence holds the defendant accountable for his exploitation of children and his abuse of a position of trust," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "As a pastor, the defendant occupied a role that carries with it a profound responsibility to protect and guide others, particularly the most vulnerable. Instead, he used that position to harm children. Protecting our community from predators like the defendant will always be a priority of our Office."

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department for their work on the case.

"Jose Saez abused his position as a Pastor by coercing innocent children to send sexually explicit images and even forcing one minor to engage in sexual acts in a public space. The pain he inflicted on the children who trusted him is indefensible, and the FBI with its partners brought this individual to justice. The men and women of the FBI's Long Island Child Exploitation Task Force will never relent in their efforts to seek justice for victims and protect our communities children," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

As set forth in court filings, and as established at both the plea proceeding and sentencing, Saez used an encrypted messaging service to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors and with a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity (the UC). In August of 2023, Saez had online conversations with the UC. During those conversations, the defendant stated that he had sexually abused an infant, that his "sweet spot" was molesting children between the ages of 11 and 15, and that he was able to find his younger victims at "church." Pursuant to a court-authorized search, FBI agents recovered numerous images and videos of child pornography from the defendant, some of which he had solicited from minors. The defendant also admitted to law enforcement officers that he encouraged at least one minor to produce child pornography and send it to him.

In addition to the defendant's solicitation and distribution of child sex abuse material, in May 2023, Saez also raped a minor he told to meet him in a public restroom in Mount Sinai, New York.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

Anyone with information about sexual exploitation by the defendant is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or (212) 384-1000.

The government's case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office's Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Misorek and Adam R. Toporovsky are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Dejah Turla.

The Defendant:

JOSE SAEZ, JR.
Age: 30
Brentwood, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-480 (JMA)