A former high school physics teacher in the Brighton School District pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of child pornography possession involving prepubescent minors in U.S. District Court in Rochester.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, who is handling the case, on October 10th, 2022, Louis Carusone shared a video and images containing child pornography in an online peer-to-peer file-sharing network, which were downloaded by an undercover law enforcement officer. The officer then downloaded more files containing child pornography that were shared from the 45-year-old man’s IP address over the next few days. Carusone was employed as a teacher during this time.
11 days later, investigators executed a search warrant at Carusone’s Webster residence and seized multiple devices including a cell phone and computer. A forensic analysis recovered more than 2,000 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted children as young as five years old and children being subjected to violence and sexual abuse. The forensic analysis further revealed that Carusone surreptitiously recorded and photographed children in public, including minor female students in his Brighton classroom, and a water park, where he recorded children in bathing suits.
Carusone faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime period of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine when sentenced on February 21, 2024.
