Officials say New York City police department officials allegedly sent indecent material to a secret police officer pretending to be a 14-year-old girl.
Travis Desouza, a 35-year-old NYPD officer from Briarwood, has been charged with dissemination of indecent material to minors, formal misconduct, third time indecency and attempts to risk the welfare of children. If convicted, Desouza will face up to four years in prison.
“I should tell you to stop…but your maturity and how you behave differently.”
Court records show Desouza, who was released on Thursday without bail, reportedly worked for the Law Enforcement Exploration Program in Brooklyn’s 75th District.
The program “provides young men and women from the city’s diverse communities with referrals to careers in law enforcement or related areas of the criminal justice system.”
“Explorers are taught the importance of higher education, self-discipline, diversity and respect for human dignity through training, involvement in community service projects, and other exploration events,” the programme said. explanation situation.
The program is said to employ a “positive adult role model” that includes “law enforcement officers who help young people view executives as fellow people.”
The program is “prepared” for young people aged 14-20.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Friday. statement: “On October 3, 2024, around 5:49pm, a secret agent pretending to be a 14-year-old girl met with Desouza, who oversaw the program. Desouza asked for the age of the undercover agent. She told Desouza she was 14 years old.
The secret agent reportedly spoke to Desouza on the Snapchat app from October 8th to October 10th.
The DA’s office said, “It is said that at about 10:11pm on October 10th, Desouza allegedly told the undercover agent “You’re something else.” About a minute later, Desouza sent a photo of a man wearing boxer shorts with his hand on his genitals. ”
Citing criminal charges, New York Post A secret agent reported asking Desouza on Snapchat: “What’s under those shorts?”
Desouza reportedly responded, “It’s probably something bigger than you can handle.”
Desouza is said to have set social media messages to disappear immediately.
The post is said to have been told by Desouza that he admitted the age difference and told the secret police officer.
Desouza is said to have sent some of the illegal messages from the New York Police Station building in Queens.
According to the department, Desouza has been suspended from the NYPD without pay.
“The accused was to use his position in the NYPD to prey on someone who happened to be 14 years old, a police officer on the mission.” Katz said.
Katz continues, “Explorers are an amazing program, and our children need to trust and have faith in their leaders. He was told that the ‘girl’ was only 14 years old, but the defendant allegedly sent her explicit content.
Desouza is scheduled to return to court on June 11th.
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