Ex-NYPD Officer Sentenced to 40 Years for Exploiting Teen Boys

A former Staten Island police officer, Christopher Terranova, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually exploiting underage boys. This ruling came from federal Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, who emphasized that Terranova “has dishonored the badge that he once wore.”

During the sentencing, the judge dismissed Terranova’s claims that alcohol played a significant role in his actions and that he struggled with his sexual orientation. “Many people grapple with their sexuality, but they don’t resort to the perversions that Mr. Terranova engaged in,” the judge noted in Brooklyn federal court. She ultimately rejected a suggested 15-year minimum sentence, opting for a much harsher punishment.

Terranova, 35, utilized social media to lure teen boys, including one victim he met as a 15-year-old during a robbery. For over three years leading to his arrest in May 2023, he convinced these boys to send him explicit photos, according to prosecutors.

The Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that the ex-officer had sexually abused two other boys, also aged 15. In emotional court statements, Terranova expressed shame and admitted that alcohol had taken hold of him. “I can’t deny the gravity of my actions,” he said, visibly moved.

His first encounter with the 15-year-old victim took place after the boy was robbed, when Terranova reached out using the NYPD database to find his contact information. “Hey… it’s Chris Terranova, the cop you met that day,” he texted, pretending to check on the boy’s well-being. Soon, the communication moved to Snapchat, where he bombarded the minor with sexual questions and even sent a video of his genitals, trying to solicit child pornography in return.

Additionally, he coerced another 15-year-old, the son of someone he was supposed to be helping, during a ride home from a birthday party. Reports indicate that he abused this teen in a secluded area.

In a separate incident, Terranova targeted a boy from Texas whom he had met on social media, gaining his trust by using his police position. He even moved closer to the victim’s neighborhood, where he committed additional offenses. Furthermore, he approached a 12-year-old locally and solicited explicit photos from him.

After a five-day trial in November 2024, Terranova was convicted on six counts of sexually exploiting and coercing minors.

Initially, Terranova had filed for retirement after being suspended without pay in 2023. During the trial, he claimed to feel “genuine” remorse, but prosecutor Rachel Bennek challenged his assertions, stating, “His conduct was not simply inappropriate; he engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior.”

His lawyer argued for the minimum sentence of 15 years, but the judge sided with the prosecution’s recommendation of 40 years. Matsumoto pointed out that Terranova’s actions had “lost their innocence and their sense of safety,” and significantly damaged public trust in law enforcement.

“Mr. Terranova, through his actions, has dishonored the badge that he once wore,” the judge concluded.