United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York

04/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/16/2024 11:56

Bronx Man Charged With Sexual Exploitation Of A Child And Receipt And Possession Of Child Pornography

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging WINSTON COLON CORREA with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. COLON CORREA was arrested this morning and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker later today.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "As alleged, Winston Colon Correa repeatedly sought out minor girls - some as young as 12 years old - to engage in sexually explicit conversations and convince them to send pornographic videos of themselves. Colon Correa allegedly knew that his victims were minors, and to earn their trust, he lied to them about his own age. This Office will relentlessly pursue predators who sexually exploit children, whether online or in person."

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

Since at least on or about May 28, 2022, COLON CORREA, a 31-year-old male, engaged in sexually explicit text message conversations with numerous minor girls. In the course of these conversations, COLON CORREA induced the production of child pornography, received child pornography, and possessed child pornography, including videos of minor girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement's review of a cellphone seized from COLON CORREA has revealed the existence of sexually explicit text messages between COLON CORREA and over approximately 15 individuals believed to be minor girls and over approximately 20 files believed to contain child pornography. COLON CORREA engaged in this conduct despite having reason to know and knowing that he was communicating with minors. On multiple occasions, COLON CORREA falsely represented to minor girls that he was only 17 years old.

Any individuals with information concerning WINSTON COLON CORREA, or whose child may have had any communications with COLON CORREA, are asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.

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COLON CORREA, 31, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in connection with this investigation.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Kinder is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.