Former Navy Officer Pleads Guilty to Attempted Coercion And Enticement of a Minor

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Douglas Engstrom, a former officer in the United States Navy, pleaded guilty to attempted interstate coercion and enticement of a minor. Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Engstrom stipulated and admitted that he possessed and received over 600 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury. When sentenced, Engstrom faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years' imprisonment and up to life in prison.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.

"The defendant, who was a member of the Navy when he committed his crimes, was convicted of preying on someone he believed to be an innocent 13-year-old girl," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "This prosecution demonstrates that we will use every law enforcement tool available to prosecute and punish to the fullest extent of the law predators, like the defendant, who exploit the most vulnerable among us: children."

"Instead of honoring his oath to protect this country, former U.S. Navy officer Douglas Engstrom exploited some of our most vulnerable citizens - children - to satisfy his perverted desires. The FBI maintains its commitment to hold accountable sexual predators that prey upon children. We will never stop in our pursuit of justice for victims," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

As set forth in court filings and during today's plea proceeding, Engstrom communicated online with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl and attempted to meet this individual to engage in sexual activity. In his communications, Engstrom admitted that he was a 36-year-old man in the Navy and said that he wanted to have oral, anal, and vaginal sex with the girl, including while she was unconscious. He then agreed to meet the girl in Valley Stream, New York to have sex with her. In reality, this purported 13-year-old girl was an undercover officer.

After booking a flight and hotel room, Engstrom traveled from Maryland to New York. On December 16, 2023, officers arrested him at the Valley Stream, New York Long Island Railroad train station. At the time of his arrest, Engstrom was holding a large teddy bear, which the undercover officer had requested that he bring to the 13-year-old girl. Members of law enforcement subsequently reviewed Engstrom's electronic devices pursuant to a judicially-authorized warrant and discovered a significant volume of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

Anyone with information about sexual exploitation by the defendant is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000.

The government's case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office's Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney James R. Simmons is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Adam Bernard and Legal Assistant Danielle Rompel.

The Defendant:

DOUGLAS ENGSTROM
Age: 38
Hanover, Maryland

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-12 (NJC)