Ex LI Diocese Choir Director Sentenced To 6 Years For Child Porn

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — Earlier today, the former choir director of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre was sentenced to 72 months in prison for receiving child pornography.

Michael Wustrow, 59, of Freeport, pleaded guilty on June 13, 2019 to the charge of receiving child pornography. The charge carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition to six years in prison, Wustrow will also have to register as a sex offender when he is released.

“Today’s sentence underscores the serious consequences Wustrow will face for years to come for his sordid role in receiving child pornography and perpetuating the sexual abuse of children,” said Acting United States Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis. “Protecting vulnerable children from predators and those who traffic in child pornography will always be a priority of this office and the Department of Justice.”

According to prosecutors, undercover officers started communicating Wustrow on the instant messaging app Kik in June of 2016. Wustrow was using the username "pervdad516." During the communications, Wustrow discussed child pornography with the officer and shared images of child pornography.

On Sept. 11, 2017, multiple images of child pornography were found on Wustrow's phone. Among the images was a picture of a toddler being abused by an adult man, which Wustrow received through Kik.

Through the app, Wustrow claimed to have had sex with a teenage boy and said that he wanted to sexually abuse a 12- or 13-year-old boy.

Wustrow, who served as the co-director of music for St. Agnes Parish, came to the church in 1993. He was a choir director and organist for many of the choir groups at the parish and was also musically involved in diocesan events, according to the parish's website.

He was removed from his post at the parish in 2017 when the FBI launched an investigation into him for possible child exploitation.

Before information about Wustrow was removed from parish's website, it said that he conducted two 70-voice girls' choirs and a 50-voice mixed choir for children in grades 1 and 2. He also conducted the Senior Girls Choir for grades 6 through 8.

The Diocese of Rockville Centre encompasses all of Long Island, with 133 parishes in 115 towns. It is the eighth-largest diocese in the country, serving nearly 1.5 million Catholics.

“Mr. Wustrow actions, and the material he collected, are a shock to our collective conscience. Thankfully, he's now headed to federal prison where he will no longer be a danger to the innocent children who have no ability to protect themselves from evil,” said FBI Assistant
Director-in-Charge Michael Driscoll.