SNCH doc arrested on child porn charges

Dr. Frank Pollaro, a cardiologist at South Nassau Communities Hospital, was arrested on Nov. 19 and charged by federal agents with downloading and disseminating child pornography.

According to a federal complaint filed against him, Pollaro used his computer in his home in Babylon to download photos and videos of children under age 18 engaged in sexual activities, sent pictures to others, used chat rooms to try to persuade under-aged girls to send him pictures of themselves, and more.

Authorities said they found Pollaro after an investigation led them to a computer in Katy, Texas, in May 2008. That computer contained more than 100 e-mail addresses that were used to send and receive child pornography, federal agents said, and Pollaro's was among them.

Pollaro was arrested without incident at his home. Before the arrest, agents said, Pollaro cooperated with them, allowing them access to his computer and answering their questions. During their investigation, they said, Pollaro admitted to accepting and sending child pornography for the past five years. At first, he estimated that he had sent and received about 100 photos, half of which were of girls under age 18. Pollaro later increased his estimate to about 500 pictures and videos, according to the federal agents.

Their cursory investigation revealed a number of videos on Pollaro's computer that appeared to show girls as young as 8 engaged in sexual acts.
A spokesman for South Nassau Communities Hospital said that Pollaro has been suspended without pay.

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