Andrew Kostyshyn-Gruber arrested after eight-month long investigation
(Long Island, NY) Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Baldwin business owner was arrested yesterday for possessing multiple images of child pornography.
Andrew Kostyshyn-Gruber, 30, was arrested at his Baldwin home and charged with five counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child (an E felony). He was arraigned today in front of District Court Judge Paul Meli and is due back in court on Feb. 26. Bail was set at $3,000 cash or bond for each count, for a total of $15,000 cash or bond. The defendant faces up to 1 and 1/3 to 4 years in prison if convicted on the charges.
The Nassau County District Attorney announced that Andrew Kostyshyn-Gruber, 30, of Baldwin was arrested for possessing multiple images of child pornography. Photo Credit: NCPD.
“Crimes against children are among the most detestable we deal with as prosecutors and we will do everything in our power to hold criminals who possess or traffic in child pornography accountable for their actions,” DA Singas said. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners around the country to stop this exploitation of children and I encourage anyone who is aware of child pornography being traded or produced to contact our office.”
DA Singas said between July 2015 and February 2016 investigators from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office observed the defendant in possession of multiple images of child pornography over the Internet.
The investigators tracked the source of those images back to the defendant’s residence. Kostyshyn-Gruber’s computer was seized during the execution of a search warrant at his home.
Assistant District Attorney Melissa Scannell of DA Singas’ Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case. Kostyshyn-Gruber was represented at arraignment by Legal Aid.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
