Slingerlands Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Daniel Fuino, age 73, of Slingerlands, New York, was indicted earlier this month on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

According to the indictment and the previously filed complaint, Fuino repeatedly molested a child born in 2016 who was under his care, and photographed the child's genitals, between 2022 and May 2023. The victim reported the abuse to her elementary school in May after a presentation on inappropriate touching and sexual contact. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Fuino, who has been in custody since May on the criminal complaint, waived his right to an arraignment and will remain detained pending trial before United States District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino.

The charges filed against Fuino carry a prison term of at least 15 years and up to life, as well as a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. If convicted, Fuino would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Albany's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, Saratoga County Sheriff's Office and the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney's offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.