Joseph Stangelo, 21, of Lindenhurst, faces child pornography possession charges, police say

A Lindenhurst man has been arrested, charged with possession of child pornography after Suffolk County police said they received a tip to their Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and a warrant search recovered evidence.

Joseph Stangelo, 21, was arrested at his home on Sunrise Avenue during the execution of that search warrant by Digital Forensic Unit detectives just after 7:30 a.m. on Friday, police said in a news release. During the search, police said investigators seized "multiple cellphones" — though police did not detail what evidence might have been recovered.

Stangelo was charged with possessing a sexual performance by a child and with promoting a sexual performance by a child. He is scheduled for arraignment later Friday in First District Court in Central Islip. 

It was not immediately clear if Stangelo was represented by counsel.

Police did not characterize or detail information provided in the tip received in the case.

Police ask anyone with information on crimes involving children to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force detectives at 631-852-6279, Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children hotline at 800-843-5678. All calls will remain confidential, police said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.