Steven Choi, Possession of Child Pornography, NY 2024

Steven Choi, 41, of Rochester, NY, stood in silence before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford Wednesday as he admitted to possessing child pornography—graphic images of prepubescent girls stashed on his personal computer. The former English teacher at Holley Central School District pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars.

The exposure began when the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force flagged online activity linking Choi to the downloading and viewing of illicit material. Federal agents traced the digital trail to an IP address registered to Choi. A forensic sweep of his seized computer uncovered multiple sexually explicit photographs of young girls—evidence that left no room for denial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Marangola, who is prosecuting the case, said the investigation was swift and damning. ‘The files were not hidden. They were accessible, organized, and repeatedly accessed,’ Marangola stated. ‘This wasn’t accidental exposure—it was deliberate consumption of the worst kind of exploitation.’

Choi is no longer employed by the Holley Central School District. School officials confirmed he was placed on administrative leave immediately upon notification of the charges. Parents of students who once sat in his classroom now demand answers. ‘He taught literature and writing,’ said one mother of a former student. ‘I can’t stop thinking about what he was doing when the school day ended.’

The probe was led by Special Agents of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force under Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen. The multi-agency unit includes the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Rochester Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations, and the Greece Police Department. Their coordinated effort underscores the growing reach of federal crackdowns on online predators.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford. Choi faces up to a decade in federal prison, followed by supervised release and mandatory registration as a sex offender. No plea deal details have been released. Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. reaffirmed the government’s stance: ‘We are relentless in pursuing those who exploit children, whether in person or behind a screen.’

RELATED: Park Hill Man Pleads Guilty to Meth, Sawed-Off Shotgun Charges