Nicolas Brown, a 28-year-old from New York, has pleaded guilty to child exploitation offenses in a Bridgeport federal court. The announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Court documents and statements reveal that in March 2024, Brown orchestrated Uber trips to transport teenage girls, including two minors under 18, from a state-run group home in Connecticut to various locations such as hotels and shopping malls where he engaged in sexual activities with one of the minors. On one occasion, Brown arranged for the minors to meet him at the Bridgeport train station before traveling together to Manhattan and subsequently staying at a hotel in South Hackensack, New Jersey.
Brown was arrested on March 20, 2024, at a hotel in Danbury on state charges. During his arrest, an iPhone was seized which contained videos depicting child sex abuse, including footage of Brown engaging in sexual conduct with a minor.
He pleaded guilty to producing child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years imprisonment. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to possessing and accessing child pornography with intent to view it, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. Brown remains detained since his arrest and is scheduled for sentencing on March 18 in Hartford.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation alongside the West Hartford Police Department and Danbury Police Department. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families also assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Avery expressed gratitude towards the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury for their cooperation during this investigation and prosecution.
This case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood Initiative aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
Reports on child exploitation can be submitted via www.cybertipline.com.