Ex-NYPD Cop Sentenced For Sexually Exploiting 4 Boys: DA

NEW YORK CITY — A NYPD officer who preyed upon at least four underage boys, from whom he tried to get explicit photographs, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, prosecutors announced on Thursday.

Christopher Terranova, 35, of Staten Island, is accused of attempting to sexually exploit, and entice and coerce three 15-year-old boys and a 12-year-old boy. Terranova was employed as a police officer when he committed the crimes.

A federal jury convicted Terranova of charges in November 2024.

“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,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella said. “The victim 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.”

Between March 2023 and May 2023, Terranova targeted a 15-year-old boy he encountered at the 121st 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 then asked the victim to add him on Snapchat and Instagram.

On Snapchat, Terranova began asking the victim sexually explicit questions, sent the victim a photograph of his genitals, and asked for a sexually explicit photograph of the victim, prosecutors said.

The victim informed his mother about the inappropriate messages, and she reported the matter to police.

The ex-cop 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, prosecutors said.

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.

In addition, the 35-year-old asked a 12-year-old sexually explicit questions and solicited sexually explicit photos through Snapchat.