Former NYC Council member faced child porn probe in 2010

Documents show that Dan Halloran, a former New York City Council member, was investigated for child pornography in 2010 while he was still in office. The probe did not result in an arrest, but his name was added to a watch list.

In March 2025, customs officials in Miami seized Halloran’s phone upon his arrival at the airport, finding approximately 1,000 child pornography files in a hidden folder. The seizure is now central to his criminal trial.

Halloran, who was flying home from Cuba with his girlfriend, was stopped during a layover at Miami International Airport by Customs and Border Protection officers. One officer, Alexis Reyes, testified that Halloran was flagged due to an expired lookout alert related to the 2010 investigation.

Halloran initially refused to provide his phone passcode, citing discomfort due to his past conviction. However, he eventually gave the code after being shown a Tear Sheet explaining the border search requirements.

Court filings do not provide details about who conducted the 2010 investigation or why it was closed. The case now hinges on whether the seizure of Halloran’s phone should be suppressed.

Halloran’s lawyer, Ashley Kay, argued that the officers misrepresented the law and that there was no reasonable suspicion to justify the stop, especially given the 15-year gap since the previous investigation.