The arrest of a longtime New York City teacher’s aide has sent shockwaves through the education and law enforcement communities.

Alejandro Santos, a 47-year-old former school employee, has been charged with possessing and transporting thousands of child sex abuse materials discovered on his cellphone after a return trip from the Dominican Republic, as the New York Post reports.

Santos, who had worked for 23 years in New York City’s Department of Education, was taken into custody by federal agents on July 15, at John F. Kennedy International Airport after arriving from overseas. Customs officials had flagged him as a high-risk traveler for carrying child sexual abuse materials. A preliminary search of his cellphone revealed at least 100 illicit images and videos.

Authorities reopened and expanded their investigation over the subsequent weeks, ultimately uncovering thousands of additional files concealed inside a spoof calculator app on Santos’s phone. The disturbing collection reportedly includes extreme images involving infants and toddlers being sexually abused. Digital forensics revealed that the files had been downloaded and saved between January 2024 and May 2025.

Federal prosecutors took action soon after, indicting Santos on multiple charges related to the transportation and possession of child pornography. He was formally arraigned in Brooklyn Federal Court on Aug. 22, when he faced a judge for the first time regarding the federal crimes. The charges could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years if he is convicted.

Arrest triggers alarm

At the time of his arrest, Santos was employed at a school in the Bronx that serves children with mental disabilities, including some who are nonverbal. Prosecutors have noted the concerning nature of his former role, given the trust placed in school staff and the vulnerable condition of the students he was working with. Investigators believe none of the children under his care were victimized directly, though inquiries remain ongoing.

“This defendant worked closely with young kids nearly every day over the course of 23 years,” said Ricky Patel, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ New York field office. “Protecting minors from individuals like this defendant is not only paramount, it’s personal.”

Patel urged anyone with relevant information to come forward. The agency is continuing to comb through the digital evidence and examine any potential ties to further criminal behavior by Santos, including connections to networks sharing illegal content.

Suspension follows explosive federal probe

Immediately following his arrest, the New York City Public Schools system placed Santos on administrative leave. A spokesperson for the department described the allegations as deeply troubling and emphasized a zero-tolerance stance on such conduct by any employee trusted to work with children.

“The alleged behavior is extremely concerning and unacceptable,” the spokesperson said. “This employee was suspended immediately following their arrest, and if convicted, we will pursue termination.” The school system has not publicly identified the specific institution where Santos was last employed, likely due to privacy concerns and the ongoing nature of the case.

According to investigators, some of the images on Santos’ phone showed clothed children in classroom environments, including some who appeared to have physical disabilities. This raises questions about whether he used his access to students to collect these photos without their or their guardians’ consent.

Disturbing content hidden in a fake calculator app

One of the most alarming aspects of the investigation was the method used by Santos to hide illegal files. Agents say he stored child pornography within a disguised app on his smartphone that outwardly looked like a calculator -- technology commonly used by tech-savvy offenders to mask illicit material from detection.

The content recovered included several videos showing unspeakable acts involving prepubescent children, including nude babies and young girls being assaulted by adults. While authorities have not detailed all the images publicly, they confirmed the nature of the videos as among the most disturbing they’ve encountered in similar cases.

Federal officials say this type of digital behavior suggests a clear intent to obtain and keep child sexual abuse materials while avoiding detection. The severity of the content could influence any potential sentencing should Santos be convicted in court.

Lessons to learn

1. Technology can be manipulated for dangerous purposes. Parents, guardians, and educators must stay up to date on popular apps that can be misused to hide harmful or criminal content. Monitoring tools like disguised calculators or locked folders should raise red flags on shared devices.

2. Background checks are important but not infallible. Even long-term employees with seemingly clean records can harbor dangerous behaviors. Institutions must regularly reassess staff conduct and provide avenues for students, families, and faculty to report suspicious activity without fear.

3. We must always believe and support victims. While there's no current evidence of direct abuse in Santos' school, the wider impact of such crimes is devastating to survivor communities. Regardless of the precautions taken, anyone can fall victim to an atrocity, and the blame should never be placed on them.

Why this story matters

This disturbing case underscores the importance of vetting school employees and monitoring digital behavior, especially in roles close to vulnerable children.

It highlights how even trusted community members can be capable of horrific crimes. Public awareness and vigilance are essential for identifying and preventing future abuse.