Former NYC Teacher Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

A former New York City teacher, Joseph Taylor McKeel, is facing the possibility of decades in prison after pleading guilty to possessing a thumb drive containing child pornography, including disturbing images of child sexual abuse.

McKeel, who taught biology at Independence High School in Hell’s Kitchen, entered his plea in a Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Prosecutors revealed that McKeel was arrested in March while heading to work. Authorities found a backpack with a thumb drive that held over 150 images related to child sexual abuse, along with a methamphetamine pipe.

The investigation into McKeel began when an undercover detective from Police Scotland caught him exchanging child pornography on Zoom in September. He was part of an online group called “Just Guys and Football,” suspected of sharing illicit images during these meetings, according to federal authorities.

Tracking the IP address linked to his online username led U.S. agents to acquire a search warrant for his residence. During the search, another device containing additional child sexual abuse material was discovered.

Following his arrest, McKeel’s name was removed from the Independence High School website. He had been released on $200,000 bail and was instructed by Brooklyn Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon to enter a drug treatment program.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocera remarked, “In his role as a trusted high school biology teacher, McKeel was found in possession of horrifying images of child sexual abuse.” He emphasized that prosecuting offenders who exploit children through the child pornography market remains a high priority for both his office and law enforcement agencies.

McKeel is set to face a potential sentence of 20 years in prison during his upcoming sentencing.