Putnam County Man Arrested On Child Sexual Exploitation Charges: Sheriff

KENT, NY — An investigation, including federal agents and local law enforcement, led to a Hudson Valley man, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

The department announced that 68-year-old Lawrence Grella was arrested on Thursday after a multi-agency investigation into the online sharing and possession of child sexual abuse material.

The investigation started on July 9, when the Sheriff's Office received an Internet Crimes Against Children referral about two National Center for Missing & Exploited Children CyberTipline reports. In collaboration with Homeland Security Investigators (HSI), Sheriff's Office investigators identified an Instagram account linked to Grella that was used to share illicit content.

After search warrants and subpoenas were executed for social media and internet service provider records, investigators were able to identify Grella's residence.

On August 5, the Sheriff's Office, with help from HSI, executed a search warrant at Grella's home. Several electronic devices were seized, and forensic reviews found illicit videos on Grella's phone, according to the Sheriff's Office.

He voluntarily surrendered to authorities, accompanied by his attorney.

Grella was arraigned in the Town of Kent Court on two felony counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child and three felony counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child. He was released on his own recognizance with probation check-ins three times a week.