Federal prosecutors say a Staten Island woman secretly snapped sexually explicit photos of a toddler and sent them to her husband, who is already facing a separate federal child-sex case. The new charge adds another disturbing layer to an investigation that authorities say uncovered video and photos linked to the couple on a discarded phone late last year.
According to New York Daily News, 38-year-old Brittany Consiglio has been hit with a federal count of distributing child pornography. A court filing cited by the outlet says she was ordered released on a 75,000 dollar bond and that she had previously agreed to co-sign a 100,000 dollar bond for her husband, 39-year-old Jon Consiglio.
As first reported by Yahoo, the case spun up after Jon allegedly handed off a phone on November 25 that still held sexual videos and a photo of a young girl. The person who received the device found the files and contacted law enforcement, according to that report, which notes the phone contained two videos and one photo that triggered an FBI investigation.
What Prosecutors Say Was On The Phone
Federal court papers lay out a series of text messages and multimedia exchanges that prosecutors claim connect the couple to the troubling images. The criminal complaint alleges that on September 27, Jon texted Brittany, “take a picture of her to prove you are committed,” after which she allegedly sent back a photo showing the child’s genitals. According to the filing, he later replied, “holy f--- good job.”
Prosecutors also say that on October 25, the two exchanged messages about waking the child so more photos could be taken. Investigators say one video they recovered appears to show a man and the child in a bedroom that agents linked to the Consiglio residence in the Woodrow neighborhood on Staten Island, as detailed by New York Daily News.
Courtroom Battle And Potential Time
U.S. District Judge Diane Gujarati stepped in and overruled a magistrate judge’s earlier decision to release Jon Consiglio, ordering that he remain locked up. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, according to prior coverage cited by Yahoo.
Prosecutors have told the court that the federal charges of enticing or coercing a minor to produce sexual images carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years if there is a conviction, according to that reporting.
Neighborhood On Edge
The allegations have left neighbors in Woodrow rattled, with the case unfolding in the kind of quiet residential pocket where residents are more used to school runs and supermarket runs than federal agents. Court documents state that the child’s mother has been notified of the investigation.
Federal authorities say the probe is still active and that agents are continuing to review evidence. They have urged anyone with information to contact the FBI as the case moves forward in Brooklyn federal court.
Legal Implications
Both Brittany and Jon Consiglio are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court. The charges are federal and carry lengthy potential prison terms if jurors ultimately side with prosecutors. With the investigation still underway, court filings suggest more developments could be on the horizon.
