Queens man arraigned in Rockland County on child exploitation charges
NEW CITY, N.Y.
— A Queens man was arraigned Friday on multiple felony charges related to an alleged attempt to send explicit materials to a person he believed was a minor, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh, II announced.
Dominic Vitale, 44, also known as “Tatt2Dom,” was indicted on ten counts of attempted disseminating indecent materials to minors in the first degree and one count of attempted endangering the welfare of a child. He appeared before Judge Kevin F. Russo in Rockland County Court.
According to the indictment, between March 18 and May 14, Vitale exchanged sexually explicit messages, photographs, and videos with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. The officer was part of the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce.
Vitale was taken into custody and bail was set at $10,000 cash or $100,000 bond. The court scheduled the next hearing for June 11.
“The case was investigated by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce,” the DA’s Office stated.
Undercover sting leads to indictment
The charges against Vitale stem from a two-month investigation that used digital communications to identify potential online predators. Prosecutors allege that Vitale believed he was communicating with a minor throughout the period and persisted in sending explicit content despite the supposed age of the recipient.
Vitale faces significant prison time if convicted on all charges. Attempted disseminating indecent materials to minors in the first degree is a class E felony under New York State law.
The case remains under the jurisdiction of the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted in County Court.
