Former New York City Public School Teacher Sentenced To 150 Months In Prison For Receipt And Distribution Of Child Pornography

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that ANTHONY MICHAEL SOUZA was sentenced to 150 months in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography. SOUZA's sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who also presided over the guilty plea.

"New York City parents trusted Anthony Michael Souza to keep their children safe," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Souza betrayed that trust by sharing ghastly child pornography and preying on minors, including his own students. Today's sentence affirms yet again this Office's unwavering commitment to protect our children and to find and prosecute individuals who traffic in child pornography."

According to the Information, public filings, the plea agreement, and statements made in court proceedings:

For three years leading up to his 2024 arrest, SOUZA served as an arts and theater teacher in multiple New York City public schools. His students included children between kindergarten and high school. During this time, SOUZA sent and received approximately 250 videos and approximately 1,050 images containing child pornography. Some of those videos and images showed abuse and rape of children, infants, and toddlers. SOUZA also took sexualized photographs and videos of young (clothed) children inside his classrooms and sent them to individuals with whom SOUZA shared child pornography.

In addition to the child-pornography conduct, SOUZA maintained a sexual relationship with a minor ("Minor-1") for more than a year. SOUZA and Minor-1 had sex on multiple occasions, and SOUZA filmed himself having sex with Minor-1. SOUZA also invited other men who joined SOUZA for group sex with Minor-1. Additionally, SOUZA and another individual discussed SOUZA's unsuccessful attempt to "groom" one of SOUZA's fifth-grade students ("Minor-2"). The attempt was foiled when Minor-2 hung up the phone and blocked SOUZA.

If you believe you have information concerning exploitation of children, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

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In addition to the prison term, SOUZA, 38, of Manhattan, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

This case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Getzel Berger is in charge of the prosecution.