Renee Hoberman, a licensed social worker from Plainview, New York, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for the receipt and distribution of child pornography. The sentencing took place in federal court in Central Islip before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.
According to court records and statements made during the proceedings, Hoberman used encrypted social media messaging applications to upload, receive, and trade digital videos and images showing minors involved in sexually explicit conduct. Some of these materials depicted infants as young as six months being physically restrained and sexually assaulted by adults. Hoberman also engaged in online conversations about child sexual molestation, posing as a father who claimed to abuse his own children and encouraging others to participate.
At the time she was distributing this material online, Hoberman worked as a mental health counselor for children and adolescents. She was arrested on October 23, 2024, pleaded guilty on June 18, 2025, and has been incarcerated since her arrest.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. stated: “Today, Renee Hoberman was sentenced for distributing sordid images and videos depicting the horrific sexual abuse of the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society: infants and children. The defendant’s access to children has come to an end. Our Office will relentlessly pursue child predators and hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations New York, commented: "The absolute depravity of Renee Hoberman's crimes, committed while she was entrusted as a mental health counselor for children, represents a staggering betrayal of the public trust and a horrific violation of innocent lives. I hope the defendant's sentencing delivers a measure of justice to the Long Island community and offers hope for healing to her traumatized victims, who deserve to know that their suffering has not gone unanswered. HSI New York and our partners relentlessly investigated this case, and we remain unyielding in our commitment to protect vulnerable communities from predators in every form."
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006—to combat child sexual exploitation using federal resources alongside state and local agencies.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York led this prosecution through its Long Island Criminal Section with Assistant United States Attorney Kaitlin McTague handling the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York oversees prosecutions involving federal crimes such as this one throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, and Suffolk County official website. The office supports community outreach efforts aimed at victim assistance official website and operates offices both in Brooklyn and Central Islip official website. The current head prosecutor is Breon Peace official website.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
###
