Victor Alvelo, 61, a former general superintendent at the New York City Department of Sanitation, was arrested Tuesday in the Bronx on federal charges of possessing child pornography. Federal prosecutors say Alvelo, who retired from the agency in 2025, kept thousands of images and videos depicting sexually abused children in his home, including material showing prepubescent victims and children as young as 12.
Alvelo was charged with one count of possessing child pornography involving images and videos of prepubescent minors and minors under 12, according to the New York Post. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, the outlet reported.
Search Warrant Followed Months of Suspicious Online Activity
A federal judge authorized a search warrant for Alvelo's Bronx home earlier this month, the outlet reported, after suspicious online activity was traced to an IP address associated with the residence. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, agents first identified the illicit activity through digital monitoring of peer-to-peer file-sharing networks tied to that address.
USB Drive Tucked in a Sanitation Jacket, More Files on a Home Computer
Investigators searching the home found a USB flash drive tucked in the front pocket of a DSNY-branded jacket, the outlet reported. The drive reportedly held 154 images and videos of child pornography, alongside personal photos and sanitation-duty paperwork. Additional illegal files turned up on a computer hard drive in Alvelo's home office, according to the same report.
Multi-Agency Task Force, Federal Court Appearance
The investigation was carried out jointly by Homeland Security Investigations' Child Exploitation Investigations Team, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the NYPD Computer Crimes Squad, according to the Department of Justice. Following his arrest, Alvelo was presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein, the agency said.
Pete Gizas said Alvelo allegedly betrayed the confidence placed in him by the city and public, according to the New York Post. Jessica Tisch, quoted by the outlet, said Alvelo allegedly possessed thousands of disturbing child pornography images, including victims as young as 12 years old. The NYPD said it "will be relentless in stopping predators who seek to exploit and harm children," per the same report.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said federal prosecutors are committed to pursuing justice against individuals who possess graphic child sexual abuse material, the Department of Justice said.
A High-Profile Career Before the Charges
Alvelo's arrest marks a sharp turn from his public-facing role at DSNY. He appeared as a model for an up-cycled clothing collection created with designer Zero Waste Daniel during New York Fashion Week in February 2021, an initiative highlighted by the Sanitation Foundation.
Alvelo had served as a general superintendent in the Bronx borough since at least late 2017, according to the department's internal newsletter, Trash Talk. Under the city's civil service structure, general superintendent is an upper-echelon managerial title above supervisor, tasked with directing borough operations and enforcing departmental policy, per the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Managerial general superintendents at DSNY earn base salaries exceeding $219,000 a year, according to payroll data from Checkbook NYC.
DSNY is the world's largest municipal waste management agency, employing more than 9,000 uniformed and civilian staff who manage over 12,000 tons of trash daily, according to the New York City Department of Sanitation.
What Happens Next
It is not yet known whether additional charges or co-defendants could emerge from the broader file-sharing investigation, or what bail conditions, if any, were set after Alvelo's appearance before Judge Stein. Whether the case will affect his city pension has also not been addressed by officials.
