According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief…

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O'Meara, who is the Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, a Rome man has been arrested after illicit material was found in his possession.

The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report from Microsoft indicating that an unknown individual had uploaded child exploitation material to their platform, named Bing. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) then contacted the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), and then transferred the case to the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center. The case was assigned to Sheriff’s Investigator Mark R. Chrysler.

The NCMEC, ICAC, and Investigator Chrysler’s investigation generated enough evidence and probable cause to draw a search warrant for the residence in the City of Rome.

On the morning of July 23, 2024, members of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, which is comprised of Investigators from the Utica Police Department, Rome Police Department, New York State Police, and Sheriff’s Office, along with assistance from the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the New York State Police Computer Crimes unit and members of the Sheriff’s and Rome Police patrol division, executed a search warrant at a residence on Floyd Avenue in the City of Rome.

After the execution of the search warrant, Investigator Chrysler charged Joseph M. Cannistra, age 44, with one count of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, a Class D Felony.

Cannistra was processed at the Oneida County Sheriff’s office and later transported to their correctional facility where he was held for arraignment at CAP Court.

After arraignment, Cannistra was remanded to the Oneida County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.

The case has been referred to the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office for review and further charges are possible.