Defendant Directed Victims’ Mothers to Molest Their Children and Send Him Images of the Abuse
Earlier today, Alberto Randazzo, a Sergeant with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to sexually exploit a child and one count of receipt of child pornography. Today’s plea took place before United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. At sentencing, Randazzo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison on each of the top counts.
The plea was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York, and William J. Bratton, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD).
According to previous court filings and statements made during the plea proceedings, from as early as 2010 through 2013, Randazzo targeted mothers through websites such as Ashley Madison and Match.com and persuaded them to sexually abuse their children so he could view it. Randazzo was caught in February 2013, when a witness found disturbing text messages on Randazzo’s phone and uncovered emails from women sending Randazzo pictures of them molesting their children. When the witness confronted him, Randazzo admitted his sexual interest in mothers having sex with their children.
Based on the information obtained from the witness and the photographs, the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) of the NYPD obtained a search warrant for Randazzo’s apartment and found numerous images and videos of child pornography, including a number of videos of child pornography that were created by Randazzo himself. Randazzo was arrested and charged in Queens Criminal Court. At the time of his arrest, Randazzo had been a member of the NYPD for 15 years. While on bail in connection with that case, Randazzo was discovered by Special Agents of HSI to be downloading child pornography, which led to the federal investigation and federal charges being filed.
In announcing the guilty plea, Mr. Capers praised the joint investigative efforts of HSI and the NYPD.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler Smith and Moira Kim Penza.
The Defendant:
ALBERTO RANDAZZO
Age: 39
Astoria, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 14-CR-189 (PKC)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
