Courts and Law Downtown

Staten Island cop faces federal charges for soliciting sex and nudes from young boys

December 15, 2023 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

The Federal Court Building in Brooklyn, where Staten Island NYPD Officer Christopher Terranova was charged with Child Exploitation and Coercion of Minors.Photo: Rob Abruzzese/Brooklyn Eagle

The Federal Court Building in Brooklyn, where Staten Island NYPD Officer Christopher Terranova was charged with Child Exploitation and Coercion of Minors.
Photo: Rob Abruzzese/Brooklyn Eagle

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A 34-year-old New York City police officer was indicted on federal charges on Thursday for his alleged involvement in child exploitation and coercion of minors.

Christopher Terranova was charged in the Eastern District of New York, and the allegations paint a grim picture of a trusted law enforcement official allegedly using his position to prey upon the youth he was sworn to protect.

“The defendant allegedly preyed upon vulnerable youth in the same community he was sworn to protect,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Protecting minors from those who violate their position of trust will always be a priority of this office. I urge parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers and individuals who seek to exploit them.”

The indictment accuses Terranova of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with underage boys via social media platforms like Snapchat. He allegedly exploited his encounters with these minors, either socially or through his job, to solicit nude photographs. In one harrowing instance, Terranova is alleged to have taken a minor to a secluded location after offering a ride home, where he then directed the victim to engage in sex acts.

Terranova’s alleged conduct extended to abusing his access to NYPD databases. In one case, he contacted a 15-year-old robbery victim, using his personal information from the database, under the pretense of checking on his well-being. He then attempted to engage the minor in sexual conversations and solicited explicit photographs.

“It’s Chris Terranova the cop you met at the 121 [Precinct] that day with mom, I just wanted to reach out to see if you were doing OK after the incident, I hate seeing these things happen to good guys like yourself,” Terranova allegedly wrote to the 15-year-old in March while he was working at the 121st Precinct, according to court documents.

Searches of Terranova’s social media accounts, personal devices and home have revealed several other potential victims, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior. Disturbingly, in one case, Terranova appears to have exploited a young teen he encountered during a mental health crisis.

Previously arrested on state charges, Terranova now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted on the federal charges.

He has been employed by the NYPD since 2011 and has been suspended following these allegations, according to the prosecutors. In 2020, Terranova’s total compensation amounted to $120,913, as reported by See Through NY.

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