Ex-N.Y.P.D. Officer Convicted of Sex Offenses Involving 4 Underage Boys
The New York Times
Christopher Terranova, a former officer from Staten Island, was accused of preying on teenage boys on Snapchat, including one whom he met when the child reported a robbery.
A former New York City police officer was convicted on Friday of sex offenses involving four underage boys, including a robbery victim whom he befriended and then preyed on over Snapchat by sending him an explicit photo and asking for one in return.
The officer, Christopher Terranova, 34, of Staten Island, was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all six counts of sexually exploiting, attempting to sexually exploit, enticing and coercing three 15-year-old boys and a 12-year-old boy, according to a news release. Prosecutors said he engaged in “hands-on sex acts” with two of the victims.
Mr. Terranova, who retired in September 2023 while he was suspended from the department, “abused his position as a police officer to gain the trust of his victims in a despicable strategy to gratify his sexual desires,” said Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, in a statement.
Vinoo Varghese, Mr. Terranova’s lawyer, said he would appeal. The former officer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and could receive a life sentence, according to the news release.
“We’re disappointed in the verdict as there was more than enough reasonable doubt to acquit on all charges,” Mr. Varghese said.
He added: “This federal prosecution was a waste of taxpayer dollars and should have been just prosecuted locally. Chris, however, is a sexy target because he was a cop.”
