Earlier today at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Carmine Simpson received a 23-year prison sentence for sexually exploiting minors online. The sentencing was delivered by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown. Simpson had pleaded guilty on March 24, 2023, to one count of sexually exploiting a minor. His actions took place in 2020 while he served as an officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). These actions involved engaging children in sexual conversations and manipulating them into sending nude images and videos.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., and FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia announced the sentencing. "The defendant’s repeated sexual solicitation and exploitation of minors is reprehensible," stated Nocella. He emphasized that Simpson's status as a law enforcement officer at the time made his conduct more egregious.
Raia added, "Carmine Simpson betrayed his badge by preying upon minors for twisted sexual gratification." He highlighted that Simpson coerced minors into providing explicit content.
Simpson targeted children on Twitter, pretending to be a 17-year-old boy to engage them. He altered his appearance using filters to look younger and communicated with minors, some as young as 13 years old.
Authorities became aware of Simpson's activities in December 2020 after John Doe 2's mother discovered chat communications on her child's computer. In these messages, Simpson asked inappropriate questions and gave instructions regarding writing words on the victim's body.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. It aims to locate and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet.
Assistant United States Attorney Megan E. Farrell handled the prosecution within the Office’s Long Island Division.
Simpson was formerly an NYPD officer before resigning in 2022.