Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Coercion and Enticement of Minors

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Steven LaBianca was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 12 years' imprisonment for coercion and enticement of minors and possession of child pornography. LaBianca communicated with multiple minor victims over the internet and coerced them into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. LaBianca pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2024.

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 sentence.

"Today, the defendant received a significant and deserved jail term for using manipulation and deception to exploit vulnerable victims, wrongly believing he could act without consequence," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "This prosecution makes clear that coercion and enticement and possession of child pornography-particularly when directed at minors-will be met with the full force of federal law. Our Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and hold sexual predators accountable."

"For years, Steven LaBianca prowled online platforms to exploit minor victims by forcing them to engage in sexually explicit conversations and create pornographic material. Not only did his coercion abuse the innocence of young girls, it also revictimized those whose recordings were shared in other threads for LaBianca's twisted desires. The FBI will continue its mission to protect children from online sexual predators and investigate anyone who attempts to exploit them," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

As set forth in court filings, in 2017, LaBianca communicated online with a 15-year-old girl who resided in Cyprus (Jane Doe 2). LaBianca induced Jane Doe 2 to send him photographs and videos of herself nude and engaging in sexual activities, and instructed her to watch pornographic videos involving other young girls. LaBianca threatened to leave Jane Doe 2 for a younger girl once she grew up and advised Jane Doe 2 to delete incriminating evidence from her devices if she was ever approached by law enforcement authorities. Over the course of their communications, Jane Doe 2 sent LaBianca hundreds of photographs and videos of her engaged in sexual activities.

Additionally, from September 2017 through May 2020, LaBianca communicated with multiple young girls-some as young as 13-years-old-and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit photographs and videos through social media platforms such as Omegle, Skype, and Instagram.

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 the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andy Palacio is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

STEVEN LABIANCA
Age: 53
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-206 (AMD)