Registered Sex Offender Charged With Drugging And Sexually Abusing Minors

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the return of a 10-count Indictment charging ANDREW WILKINSON, a/k/a "Steppa," with convincing and enticing three minor female victims to engage in unlawful sexual activity with him, filming a sexually explicit video of a 15-year-old girl ("Minor Victim-1"), and drugging and sexually assaulting 17-year-old and 16-year-old girls ("Minor Victim-2" and "Minor Victim-3," respectively). The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. WILKINSON was arraigned on the Indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang earlier today.

"As alleged, Andrew Wilkinson, a registered sex offender and serial predator, used social media to target vulnerable girls so he could drug them, sexually assault them, and film his abuse," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Thankfully, Wilkinson's illicit conduct was brought to light, and he will now have to answer to these serious charges. Our Office, along with our federal partners and the NYPD, are making a whole-of-government effort to rid our streets of sexual predators. That is what New Yorkers want. That is what we are delivering. The sexual assault of minors and the production and distribution of child pornography are too prevalent. I urge all New Yorkers to assist us in ridding our streets of predators. If you have been a victim of the alleged sexual abuse perpetrated by Wilkinson-or if you know anything about his alleged crimes or think you've experienced something similar-we encourage you to contact [email protected] or 212-637-0076."

"This defendant, who is already a registered sex offender, allegedly used social media to lure underage girls to an unlicensed business for free tattoos and then drugged, raped, and recorded sexually explicit videos of them," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "This horrific behavior-especially the abuse of minors-has no place in our city, and thanks to the relentless work of our NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners, this predator is being held accountable. We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to protect survivors of sexual assault and ensure justice is served in this case."

As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in Court:(1)

WILKINSON drugged, sexually assaulted, and recorded sexual encounters with minor female victims. WILKINSON, who was 34 years old and a registered sex offender, operated and advertised an unlicensed tattoo service and used his tattoo service as a means by which to gain access to minor victims to sexually abuse. WILKINSON met and communicated with his victims primarily on social media platforms and utilized those platforms to convince his victims to travel to an apartment in the Bronx where he drugged, sexually assaulted, and filmed sexually explicit videos of them. WILKINSON drugged a 16-year-old girl and sexually abused her while she was physically incapacitated.

Between at least in or about December 2024 and May 2025, WILKINSON repeatedly sent promotional messages offering free tattoos to Minor Victim-1, who was 14, and tried to convince Minor Victim-1 to meet him in person. On or about January 27, 2025, after Minor Victim-1 turned 15, WILKINSON convinced Minor Victim-1 to visit him, where he used a cellphone to record a sexually explicit video depicting Minor Victim-1.

In or around May 2025, WILKINSON met a second victim, who was 17 years old, and convinced Minor Victim-2 to travel from Long Island to the Bronx to obtain a tattoo. While in the Bronx, WILKINSON drugged and sexually assaulted Minor Victim-2.

On or about July 23, 2025, WILKINSON persuaded a third victim, who was 16 years old, to travel to the Bronx where WILKINSON told Minor Victim-3 that he would provide a free tattoo if she played and won three card games. WILKINSON provided psilocin psychedelic mushrooms, methamphetamine, and an unidentified beverage to Minor Victim-3, causing her to lose consciousness. While Minor Victim-3 was impaired and unconscious, WILKINSON raped and sexually assaulted Minor Victim-3.

If you have been victimized by WILKINSON, who utilized the Instagram account "@tattzbysteppa," among others, or have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, or if you've seen something similar, please contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York at 212-637-0076 or reach out to us at [email protected] and reference this case.

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WILKINSON, 36, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison; three counts of committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison which must run consecutively to the other sex offenses; one count of distribution of a controlled substance, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of distribution of a controlled substance with intent to commit rape, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD, the Special Agents, Task Force Officers, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bronx District Attorney's Office, the Connecticut State's Attorney Office for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford, the Derby Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance.

The case is being handled by the Office's Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Dana R. McCann is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

1. ^

   As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.