New York City Teacher Sentenced for Child Exploitation
A drama teacher from New York City has been sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison after authorities discovered over 1,000 disturbing images and videos depicting child sexual abuse of kids as young as six.
Anthony Michael Souza, 38, had a chilling collection that included videos of “abuse and rape of children, infants, and toddlers.” Additionally, he engaged in sexual activities with underage boys for over a year, at times boasting about “grooming” his students, according to Manhattan federal prosecutors.
Court records reveal that Souza met a 15-year-old victim on Grindr, filming their encounters, and even organizing “sex parties” involving his teenage victim.
Souza worked as a “teaching artist” at TADA!, an organization that has received significant funding from the Department of Education and the Department of Cultural Affairs since 2010.
While Souza is not accused of directly abusing students, he did, in 2024, tell undercover investigators about “grooming” a fifth-grade boy, describing the child as looking “innocent, confused, and uncomfortable” during a Snapchat exchange.
In one troubling message, Souza stated, “I’m teaching a class with him…and I had my eyes on him.” Following this, the child quickly ended communication and blocked him, according to authorities.
This teacher also filmed his students, sharing such footage with other offenders. One particularly disturbing video involved a clothed boy inappropriately positioned with respect to Souza.
The U.S. Attorney’s office disclosed that Souza shared 250 videos and around 1,050 images containing child pornography over a three-year span leading up to his arrest in 2024.
Along with his prison term, Souza will be subject to five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to child pornography charges in September. His attorney has not publicly commented on the case.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton remarked, “Parents in New York City trusted Anthony Michael Souza to keep their children safe, but he betrayed that trust by sharing horrific child pornography and preying on minors, including his own students.”
Even though Souza never worked directly for the Department of Education, he was contracted through a third-party vendor, which has not disclosed where he was assigned.
A representative from the Department of Education emphasized their commitment to student safety, stating they are prepared to offer support in light of these events.
TADA! maintained that Souza had been thoroughly vetted before his employment and stressed that the charges stem from actions taken after he departed the organization. They also highlighted their policy requiring two adults to supervise any activities involving children.
Before his sentencing, Souza posted several self-pitying messages on Facebook. Just before the court date, he shared an image of himself with the caption, “Please remember me this way,” leading a friend to ask, “Are you okay?”
