The New York State Police have arrested and charged two Suffolk County men for allegedly possessing child pornography.
James G. Fisk, 68, of Port Jefferson, and Jeffrey R. Bergida, 63, of Melville, were both arrested following investigations that “led to the recovery of sexual material involving children,” the New York State Police said in a news release Monday.
The investigations that led to the arrests began with “a cyber tip that was given to the state police” department spokesperson Brittany Burton told Newsday on Monday via text message.
As an agency registered with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, state troopers receive tips regarding child sexual exploitation submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Alexandria, Virginia-based nonprofit which runs a call center and online tip line.
After Computer Crimes Unit officers executed a search warrant at a Port Jefferson home on April 9, Fisk was arrested and charged with five counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child, police said. He is scheduled for arraignment May 1 at First District Court in Central Islip, according to Burton.
Following a separate investigation, Bergida was arrested on Wednesday and similarly charged, police said. He will be arraigned on May 8 at the same courthouse, Burton said.
Bergida told Newsday he has not yet retained a defense attorney when reached by telephone Monday evening. He did not comment further.
Fisk could not be reached for comment Monday evening. Defense attorney information for him was not immediately available.
Nicholas Grasso covers breaking news for Newsday. A Long Island native, he previously worked at several community newspapers and lifestyle magazines based on the East End.