PATCHOGUE, NY – Raymond A. Tierney announced that a grand jury has indicted 38-year-old Ecuadorian national Carlos Corte on charges including Kidnapping in the Second Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child in connection with the alleged abduction of a four-year-old girl from a laundromat in Patchogue.
Prosecutors allege that on the morning of March 28, 2026, the child was with family members at a Patchogue laundromat when Corte entered the business without any laundry and allegedly began speaking with the child near the rear vestibule area. Authorities claim Corte spent several minutes interacting with the child before allegedly leading her out of the laundromat and away from her family.
According to investigators, Corte allegedly walked with the child through downtown Patchogue and later brought her to the children’s section of the Patchogue-Medford Library, where library staff initially believed he was the child’s father. Prosecutors say Corte allegedly failed to respond when greeted by librarians and later claimed the child had followed him into the library. Staff members reportedly became concerned and alerted security.
Meanwhile, the child’s mother discovered her daughter was missing and began searching the area with the assistance of witnesses who had reportedly seen the girl walking with a man. The mother ultimately located her daughter inside the library with Corte. Authorities said Corte allegedly apologized for taking the child. Investigators further stated that the child later disclosed Corte had allegedly told her he was taking her to a “secret room.”
Corte was arrested a short time later after allegedly returning to the laundromat area.
District Attorney Tierney criticized the defendant’s initial release following arraignment, stating that prosecutors had requested significant bail due to the seriousness of the allegations and concerns about public safety.
Following his release, federal immigration authorities with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took Corte into custody on March 31, 2026. Federal officials alleged that Corte had entered the United States illegally from Ecuador. After ICE detained the defendant, prosecutors obtained a court writ to return him to Suffolk County to face the pending criminal charges.
On May 14, 2026, Corte was arraigned before John B. Collins on an indictment charging him with Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. Justice Collins ordered the defendant held without release while the case proceeds.
Corte is scheduled to return to court on June 18, 2026. If convicted on the top charge, he faces up to 25 years in prison. He is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.
Key Facts & Details
| Defendant | Carlos Corte, 38 |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Ecuadorian national |
| Incident Date | March 28, 2026 |
| Location | Patchogue, Suffolk County, New York |
| Victim | Four-year-old child |
| Primary Charges | Kidnapping in the Second Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child |
| Allegation | Accused of luring a child from a laundromat and bringing her to the Patchogue-Medford Library |
| Reported Statement | Child allegedly stated Corte said he would take her to a “secret room” |
| Initial Court Action | Released with GPS monitoring following initial arraignment |
| ICE Involvement | Detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 31, 2026 |
| Grand Jury Indictment | Returned in Suffolk County Supreme Court |
| Judge | Justice John B. Collins |
| Current Status | Held without release pending trial |
| Next Court Date | June 18, 2026 |
| Maximum Penalty | Up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top charge |
