Taiel Gookool, age 31, was sentenced on April 17 to 35 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release after being convicted of exploiting four minors and possessing child pornography.
The sentencing was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case underscores ongoing efforts to address crimes against children.
Gookool had previously been convicted in Connecticut in 2018 for sexual assault involving a minor between the ages of 13 and 15, which required him to register as a sex offender. Despite serving just over two years from an eight-year sentence due to suspension, he went on to exploit four teenage females in 2024, subjecting them to various forms of abuse and recording videos of these acts.
Sarcone said: “Though Gookool was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment for his 2018 conviction, he served just over 2 years of that sentence because the rest was suspended. This left him inadequately punished and totally undeterred, repeating the same conduct with multiple victims not only after his release but while still on probation for it. His 35-year sentence ensures that the community will be protected for decades to come. I applaud the work of the FBI and the New York State Police in bringing this dangerous sexual predator to justice.”
Special Agent Tremaroli said: “Mr. Gookool, a registered sex offender and pathological predator, will spend the next three and a half decades in federal prison for refusing to change his sickening behavior. While he remains behind bars and unable to harm our most vulnerable, the FBI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice for the victims of these dangerous criminals.”
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York supports community wellness by coordinating law enforcement initiatives and conducting outreach aimed at deterring crime while fostering public trust according to its official website. The office maintains facilities across Albany, Binghamton, Plattsburgh, and Syracuse according to its official website, employs about fifty Assistant United States Attorneys along with more than fifty support staff according to its official website, prosecutes federal criminal cases as well as defends civil matters on behalf of the United States according to its official website, covers thirty-two counties spanning more than thirty thousand square miles with approximately three point four million residents according to its official website, provides victim-witness support services according to its official website, is part of the United States Department of Justice according to its official website.
FBI-Albany investigated this case with assistance from FBI-New Haven as well as New York State Police; Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted it under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative led by U.S Attorneys' Offices alongside other agencies aiming at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated resources targeting online offenders (more information available at https://www.justice.gov/psc).
Looking ahead, authorities say they remain committed through such programs toward preventing similar crimes while ensuring justice is served.
