School Board Vice President Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

A vice president of a school board in upstate New York has been arrested for allegedly possessing multiple videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants on his cellphone, authorities have reported.

Travis Barr Longo, 46, from Cazenovia, was taken into custody on child pornography charges after state police searched his cellphone and discovered “numerous” videos and images showing sexual abuse. Longo, who holds a position as vice chair of the Cazenovia Central School District School Board, reportedly received explicit materials from other users via an online messaging app, according to prosecutors.

He appeared in federal court on Saturday, where he was ordered to remain in custody pending upcoming court dates. A photo released by state police shows Longo with distinctive eyebrows and what appears to be makeup smudged on his face.

In response to the shocking allegations, the Cazenovia Central School District has demanded his resignation. They indicated that if he does not resign, they will pursue his removal in accordance with state regulations.

The board stated, “We unanimously agreed to a swift and decisive process to request Mr. Longo’s resignation, as this is the most appropriate way to remove him from the Board, effective immediately.” They voiced their collective shock and sadness regarding the situation, expressing that the situation is troubling.

Longo had been given a deadline until noon on Monday to resign, but it’s unclear if he complied with that timeline. Interestingly, he had also founded the Cazenovia Pride Fest, which evolved into a nonprofit organization named Cazenovia Pride. Following the arrest, members of this group chose to cancel future Pride festivals due to the serious nature of the allegations against him.

Daniel Szymboski, president of the group, expressed feelings of betrayal, acknowledging Longo’s significant contributions in establishing the festival six years prior.

In addition to his role on the school board, Longo performed drag under the name Anita Buffem and had claimed to be “the first drag artist elected to public office in the United States.” He now faces potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison, alongside fines that could reach $250,000 for each charge. Moreover, he may be subject to at least five years, and potentially life, of supervised release after serving his time. Upon his release, registration as a sex offender will also be required.

Anthony Patrone, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Buffalo, noted, “These allegations against the school board’s vice president go to the heart of parents’ trust and concerns. For HSI Syracuse and our law enforcement partners, protecting our children is more than just a duty, it’s personal.” He emphasized their commitment to pursuing those who threaten children’s safety, ensuring that parents can send their kids to school without worry.