Earlier today, Michael Fazio, a music teacher at W.T. Clarke Middle and High School in East Meadow, Long Island, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in federal court in Central Islip. United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury presided over the proceeding. Fazio could face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, announced the guilty plea.
“Fazio possessed unthinkable graphic images of child sexual abuse, all while employed in a position of trust as a middle and high school music teacher,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Prosecuting those who victimize children by feeding the market for child pornography will always be a top priority of our Office and our law enforcement partners.”
According to court filings and statements made during the hearing, Fazio stored hundreds of images of child pornography on his Dropbox account and cellphone. Authorities executed a search warrant at his home in April 2025, where Fazio admitted to uploading three images of child pornography to his Dropbox account in October 2024. Investigators found more than 700 additional images on one cellphone. Another phone contained a “Hidden Pictures” folder with adult pornographic material as well as images and videos that Fazio secretly recorded of some students during music instruction.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to find and prosecute offenders and identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Bradley T. King from the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.
Michael Fazio is 40 years old and resides in Bellmore, Long Island.
