Former New York City Police Officer Convicted of Sex Offenses Involving Four Minor Boys and the Sexual Assault of Two of Those Children

Press Release

Defendant Used His Position as a Police Officer on Staten Island to Gain Access to a Victim

Christopher Terranova, a former New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, was found guilty today by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all six counts of a superseding indictment charging him with sexually exploiting, attempting to sexually exploit and enticing and coercing three 15-year-old boys and a 12-year-old boy. The verdict followed a five-day trial before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. Terranova filed for retirement in September 2023 while under suspension from NYPD. When sentenced, Terranova faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years' imprisonment and up to life in prison.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the <_w3a_listitem listvalue="charges" datavalue="charges"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="deferred prosecution agreement" datavalue="deferred prosecution agreement"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="extradition" datavalue="extradition"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="extraditions" datavalue="extraditions"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="guilty plea" datavalue="guilty plea"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="guilty pleas" datavalue="guilty pleas"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="investigation" datavalue="investigation"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="sentence" datavalue="sentence"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="sentences" datavalue="sentences"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="settlement" datavalue="settlement"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="verdict" datavalue="verdict"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="verdicts" datavalue="verdicts">verdict.

"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," stated United States Attorney Peace. "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. Parents and caregivers should have conversations with their children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers and as well as individuals they know, and report inappropriate contacts to law enforcement."

Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau for their assistance during the investigation.

"Christopher Terranova, a former NYPD officer, violated his sworn oath to protect and serve by preying upon four minor boys for personal gratification," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. "Terranova strategically exploited his position to establish an inappropriate relationship with his victims and impose undue sexual influence. While the majority of law enforcement conduct themselves accordingly, the FBI will continue to partner with the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau to investigate any officer abusing their badge for twisted desires."

Between approximately December 2019 and May 2023, Terranova used social media to engage in sexually explicit conversations with underage boys and attempt to entice them into taking sexually explicit photographs of themselves and sharing them with the defendant. Terranova used popular social media applications to message and gain the trust of underage boys whom he encountered socially, online or through his job as a police officer.

For example, between March 2023 and May 2023, Terranova targeted a boy who was the victim of a robbery and encountered the defendant at the 121st Precinct on Staten Island when he reported the crime. Terranova obtained the boy's cellphone number from the robbery complaint in an NYPD database and messaged him: "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 after the incident, I hate seeing these things happen to good Guys like yourself." In subsequent messages, Terranova inquired about the investigation, referred to his role as a police officer and asked the boy if he had any interest in the police department or its youth programs. Terranova also suggested, "If [sic] here too if you ever want to talk[.] I been through a lot myself over the years so just know that little bro." The defendant then asked the boy to add him on "snap" or "the gram," referring to Snapchat and Instagram. On Snapchat, Terranova began asking the boy sexually explicit questions, sent the boy a photograph of Terranova's genitals and asked for a sexually explicit photograph of the boy. The boy informed his mother about the inappropriate messages and she reported the matter to police.

Terranova also engaged in hands-on sex acts with two of his minor victims. While giving an acquaintance's son a ride home from a birthday party, Terranova brought the boy to a secluded location where he directed the victim to engage in sex acts with him.

The defendant met another victim, who lived in Texas, on social media. Terranova traveled to Texas at least 16 times to visit the boy and purchased a house in the boy's neighborhood. In one message, Terranova stated: "You being with me. . . and making love to me is more than a sign of everything happens for a reason." One reason the boy trusted Terranova was because the defendant had told him he was a police officer.

Terranova also met a 12-year-old victim locally while the defendant was on-duty. Terranova messaged the boy later on Snapchat and began asking him sexually explicit questions and solicited sexually explicit photos.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel A. Bennek and Lauren A. Bowman are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Chelsea Guzman.

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The Defendant:

CHRISTOPHER TERRANOVA
Age: 34
Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-516 (KAM)

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Updated November 22, 2024