MELVILLE, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A licensed social worker was arrested for allegedly using social media messaging apps to share photos and videos of child porn, authorities said.
Renee Hoberman, 36, was arraigned on charges of distribution of child pornography Wednesday afternoon.
According to a complaint, between June 2024 and October 2024, Hoberman allegedly used social media messaging apps to upload digital videos depicting one or more minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including several videos of infants six months to one year of age being physically restrained and raped by an adult male, as the infants cried and frantically screamed for the duration of the videos.
As recently as on Oct. 16, Hoberman allegedly uploaded child pornography and engaged in multiple chats concerning child sexual molestation. In these chats, Hoberman pretended to be a man, claimed to have multiple minor children and stated that "he" would have anal sex with the children and would punish them by getting naked, stripping the children naked, and spanking them while the other children watched, authorities said.
Hoberman invited another user to visit "his" family in New York to spank the children, according to prosecutors. In addition, Hoberman described sexually abusing "his" children and their friends, and then sent two videos containing child sexual abuse material, claiming that these videos depicted the user's own children, prosecutors said.
According to public records, Hoberman works as a therapist with an organization based in Melville and serves children aged 0-17.
"As alleged, Hoberman distributed heinous and disturbing child pornography, including videos showing infants being restrained and raped. Additionally, while posing as a man, Hoberman, who is a therapist serving children, claimed to have produced child pornography and offered others the opportunity to sexually abuse children," said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. "Our investigation into Hoberman is ongoing, and we urge anyone with information to contact HSI's tip line. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue predators who victimize children and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."
Anyone with information about sexual exploitation by the defendant is asked to contact HSI at HSI's tip line: (866) 347-2423 or via HSI's website: https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.contact HSI at HSI's tip line: (866) 347-2423 or via HSI's website: https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
