Staten Island ex-cop convicted of exploiting and assaulting minors

November 26, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

What began as a seemingly caring message escalated into sexually explicit exchanges on Snapchat, culminating in requests for explicit photographs. Photo: burdun/Adobe Stock

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A former NYPD officer from Staten Island was convicted on Friday for molesting two young boys and sexually exploiting four others.

Christopher Terranova, 34, was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn of sexually exploiting four minor boys, including the sexual assault of two of them. The verdict, delivered after a five-day trial before Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, found the Staten Island officer guilty on six counts, including sexual exploitation, attempted sexual exploitation and coercion of minors.

Terranova faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence. He retired from the NYPD in September 2023 while under suspension.

“As proven at trial, the defendant preyed on vulnerable minors through social media and on Staten Island, where he abused his position as a police officer to gain the trust of his victims in a despicable strategy to gratify his sexual desires,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. “Today’s verdict hopefully will help victims on their path to healing with the knowledge that the defendant has been brought to justice for his crimes.”

Christopher Terranova, a former NYPD officer from Staten Island, was convicted in federal court on Friday for sexually exploiting four minor boys, including the sexual assault of two of them. Photo courtesy of Eastern District

Terranova used his position as a police officer and his access to sensitive information to target his victims. Prosecutors said that between 2019 and 2023, he contacted underage boys on social media, engaging in sexually explicit conversations, soliciting explicit photographs, and, in some cases, committing physical assaults.

One victim, a 15-year-old boy, encountered Terranova at the 121st Precinct on Staten Island after reporting a robbery.

Using the boy’s information from the police database, Terranova contacted him under the guise of checking on his well-being, writing, “Hey … it’s Chris Terranova, the cop you met at the 121 that day with mom. I just wanted to reach out to see if you were doing ok.” What began as a seemingly caring message escalated into sexually explicit exchanges on Snapchat, culminating in requests for explicit photographs.

Two of Terranova’s victims were assaulted. In one instance, he isolated a boy during a car ride and directed him to engage in sexual acts. Another victim, a Texas resident, was manipulated over social media. Terranova traveled to Texas 16 times and purchased a home near the boy, attempting to establish a personal relationship.

Terranova also targeted a 12-year-old boy he met while on duty, later sending the child explicit messages and soliciting sexual images.