State Attorney Ed Brodsky announced today that Salvatore Giunta was convicted after jury trial of one count of 83 counts of Possession of Child Pornography. The crime was investigated by the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office. The trial was held at the Sarasota County Courthouse between March 9, 2026, and March 11, 2026, before the Honorable Senior Judge Charles Roberts.
The defendant was sentenced to 92.7 years in the Department of Corrections on September 4, 2026.
This case began when the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office became aware of an electronic device possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material between December of 2023 and February of 2024. That electronic device was connected to a specific IP address. Through investigative means, it was established that IP address belonged to the defendant, and a residential search warrant was executed at his address. Multiple electronic devices were seized, including the defendant’s desktop computer and numerous hard drives. When those devices were searched, the investigative team located thousands of files of child sexual abuse material, as well as digital forensic evidence showing the defendant accessed, viewed, and moved the files between multiple devices. At trial, witnesses Detective Samantha Hudson and Digital Forensic Expert Brooke Buzzell walked the jury through their systematic and precise investigation, ultimately resulting in a conviction on all 83 charged counts.
The lead prosecutor in the case, Assistant State Attorney, Jordan Greene, commented,
“There is a common misconception that possessing child sexual abuse material is a victimless crime. Not in Sarasota County. Our law enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office take these cases incredibly seriously, and we do so because those files depict real children living out the most horrific experiences of their lives. And those children are victimized every single time those files are shared, downloaded, and viewed. I am incredibly grateful to be surrounded by a law enforcement team that shares the view that just because an individual does not physically touch a child, does not mean that person should not be held accountable for their role in perpetuating the sexual abuse of children.”
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Assistant State Attorney Jordan Greene in the Sarasota County office at 941-861-4400.