Alleged child-porn ring suspects deny charges at federal court appearance
Federal courthouse in Central Islip. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
Four alleged members of a Long Island-based child pornography ring pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges Wednesday at their arraignment in federal court in Central Islip.
They were each charged last week with conspiracy to produce child pornography, involving three minor girls and one minor boy, from January 2018 to February 2020, according to officials and court records.
U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack ordered Jonathan Berretta of Centereach, Taylor Pick of Calverton, Maureen Serra of Lake Ronkonkoma and Benjamin Downs of Massachusetts to continue to be held without bail.
The young victims were identified only as Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe # 2, Jane Doe #3, and John Doe in court papers. The children's ages were not given.
Each defendant faces a single count of conspiracy to sexually exploit children, according to court records.
Berretta also faces one count of sex exploitation of a child (Jane Doe #1). Pick faces three counts of sexual exploitation of a child (John Doe). Serra faces three counts of sexual exploitation of a child (Jane Doe #2) and three counts of sexual exploitation of a child (Jane Doe #3).
The attorney for Berretta, federal public defender Randi Chavis, declined to comment afterward about her client’s case, as she did about the case against Serra, whose attorney was not present in court.
Downs’ attorney, Peter Brill, also declined to comment, as did Pick’s attorney, Lawrence Sheehan.
Eastern District Assistant U.S. Attorney Justina Geraci declined to comment about the case.
Bob Kessler covers federal law, including law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, DEA, IRS and ATF, as well as the federal courts.
