Former New York City Councilman Dan Halloran, who was previously ousted from office for his role in a $200,000 bribery scheme, was found in possession of hundreds of child sexual abuse videos upon his return to the United States, according to a report.
Stopped at Miami International Airport
Halloran, 54, was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Miami International Airport during a layover on Saturday after arriving from Camagüey, Cuba. A routine device inspection uncovered 1,362 videos hidden on his iPhone, many of which depicted explicit and criminal material involving children, Local 10 News reported.
A federal criminal complaint obtained by the outlet states that Halloran was flagged for additional screening, during which officers discovered the disturbing content. Approximately 35 of the videos involved “prepubescent” victims, according to investigators.
Admitted to possessing explicit content
Halloran, who now works as a dive instructor and resides in Floral Park, Long Island, allegedly confessed to authorities that he “knowingly” possessed child sexual abuse material. The complaint further details that he estimated “two-thirds to three-quarters” of the 1,362 videos stored in a hidden album on his phone contained illicit content.
Investigators also revealed that Halloran had purchased the illegal material via the encrypted messaging platform Telegram, a service notorious for its use by illicit networks.
Federal charges and custody status
Following his arrest, Halloran was booked into the Broward County Main Jail before being transferred to the Federal Detention Center in Miami, where he remained in custody as of Tuesday morning. He faces two federal charges related to child pornography, which could lead to significant prison time if convicted.
Halloran previously served on the New York City Council from 2010 to 2013 before his political career unraveled due to corruption charges. He was convicted in 2014 for his role in a bribery scheme to rig the 2013 mayoral election, a scandal that led to his removal from public office.
Federal authorities continue to investigate Halloran’s activities, and additional charges may follow as officials review the extent of his alleged offenses.