Former New York City Police Officer Sentenced to 40 Years’ Imprisonment for Sex Offenses Involving Minors

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Christopher Terranova, a former New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 40 years' imprisonment for sexually exploiting, attempting to sexually exploit, and enticing and coercing three 15-year-old boys and a 12-year-old boy. Terranova was employed as a police officer with the NYPD at the time of the charged conduct. A federal jury convicted Terranova of the charges in November 2024.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the sentence.

"The significant sentence the court imposed is a just outcome for the defendant's abuse of his position as a police officer to groom and manipulate young boys, gain their trust, then sexually abuse and exploit them," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "The victims showed courage in coming forward to expose this predator, and the sentence imposed ensures that no other child will be harmed by the defendant while he spends decades in prison."

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

"Christopher Terranova, a former NYPD officer, targeted, and sexually exploited multiple minors, including some who were also victims in unrelated crimes," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. "Terranova's unthinkable actions violated his sworn duty to protect this community and reflect an egregious abuse of authority to satisfy his twisted desires. May today's sentencing reflect the FBI's commitment to disrupting any sexual predator from further victimizing our city's most vulnerable victims."

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 Terranova. 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 15-year-old boy he encountered at the 121^st Precinct on Staten Island who was there to report that he had been robbed. Terranova obtained the victim'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 victim 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." Terranova then asked the victim to add him on "snap" or "the gram," referring to Snapchat and Instagram. On Snapchat, Terranova began asking the victim sexually explicit questions, sent the victim a photograph of Terranova's genitals, and asked for a sexually explicit photograph of the victim. The victim 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. One of those victims was the 15-year-old son of an acquaintance of Terranova. While giving that victim a ride home from a birthday party, Terranova brought the victim to a secluded location where he directed the victim to engage in sex acts with him.

Terranova met a third 15-year-old victim, who lived in Texas, on social media. Terranova used his status as a police officer to gain the victim's trust. Terranova traveled to Texas at least 16 times to visit the victim, engaged in sexual acts with him and purchased a house in the victim'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."

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

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.

The government's case is being handled by Office's Human Trafficking and 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.

The Defendant:

CHRISTOPHER TERRANOVA
Age: 35
Staten Island, New York

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