A New York City public high school teacher and Brooklyn resident on Tuesday pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
Joseph McKeel, 33, a biology teacher at Independence High School in Manhattan, possessed hundreds of images of child pornography, according to Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
McKeel was arrested in March 2026 on his way to work carrying a backpack that contained a thumb drive with over 150 images of child sexual abuse, along with a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine. An additional device containing child sexual abuse material was found during the execution of a search warrant at McKeel’s residence, prosecutors said.
“McKeel possessed graphic images of child sexual abuse, including sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, all while employed in a position of trust as a high school biology teacher,” Nocella said in a statement. “Prosecuting those who victimize children by feeding the market for child pornography will always be a top priority of our office and our law enforcement partners.”
When sentenced, McKeel faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
