Ex-Rochester Firefighter Marrapese Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A former firefighter from Rochester has pleaded guilty to a massive child pornography operation that spanned over seven years.

Brett Marrapese, 32, of Irondequoit, NY, has admitted to distributing and receiving child pornography, charges that carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison per count, with a maximum of 40 years. The former firefighter also faces a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi detailed how Marrapese utilized various online platforms including Omegle, Kik, Snapchat, and Instagram to produce, receive, distribute, and possess over 600 images of child pornography. The investigation revealed that Marrapese posed as a teenage boy, tricking minors into sending him sexually explicit photos of themselves.

Some of the content shared by Marrapese was particularly disturbing, featuring violence against and sexual abuse of children, infants, and toddlers. Rossi emphasized the severity of the charges, stating that Marrapese’s actions were far from innocent curiosity.

The guilty plea comes after a thorough investigation conducted by the Irondequoit Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force under the direction of Chief Scott Peters and Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

Marrapese’s sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The grimy details of this case serve as a stark reminder of the dark corners of the internet and the real-world consequences for those who exploit children.