(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Leonard Suskin, 53, of East Northport, was indicted for Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child and Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, for allegedly creating and sharing child sexual abuse material, including images generated by artificial intelligence to alter innocuous photographs of children.
“This defendant allegedly sat on a commuter train and openly viewed and shared child sexual abuse material and was caught when a fellow passenger had the courage to act,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office will prosecute anyone who exploits children in Suffolk County. We urge parents to be mindful of the images of their children that they share publicly online, as predators can and do use those images for these purposes.”
According to the investigation, in January 2026, Suskin was a commuter on the Long Island Rail Road when another commuter observed him allegedly viewing and uploading images of child sexual abuse in a chat group on his phone. The witness recorded his observations through the space between the seats and made note of where Suskin got off the train. The MTA Police later identified Suskin as the alleged perpetrator and executed search warrants for his phone and other electronic devices.
A phone and flash drives recovered from Suskin’s briefcase, as well as electronic devices recovered from his home, were seized and brought to the Suffolk County Police Department’s Digital Forensics Unit. Several devices allegedly contained child sexual abuse material, including innocuous images of children that he had allegedly altered utilizing artificial intelligence programs to create child sexual abuse images. The analysis further revealed that Suskin allegedly uploaded images to social media platforms to distribute to others.
On April 6, 2026, Suskin was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis, for the following charges:
- Two counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child as a Sexually Motivated Felony, Class D violent felonies;
- Four counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, Class D felonies; and
- 56 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, Class E felonies.
Justice Wilutis ordered Suskin be held on $200,000 cash, $600,000 bond, or $2,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Suskin is due back in court on May 13, 2026, and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Evan Sugar, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Raso of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Detective Philip Gauthier of the MTA Police, with assistance from Detectives Gregory Pranzo and George Oliva of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Digital Forensics Unit.