Bridgeport Official Charged With Child Exploitation Resigns

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Michael Natsu has resigned from the city's Zoning Board of Appeals three months after he was brought up on federal child exploitation charges, according to The Connecticut Post. Natsu served on the board since May 2020.

Natsu, 62, was charged June 30 with attempted transfer of obscene materials to a minor, attempted receipt of child pornography, and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. He was released on $100,000 bond, according to The Connecticut Post.

In March, Nastu, using the Kik social media application, started a chat with an FBI undercover employee who was posing as a 14-year-old female from Connecticut, according to prosecutors.

Between March 31 and June 25, Nastu sent the FBI employee sexually explicit messages and several pictures and videos of male genitalia. He attempted to entice the FBI employee to send him child pornography in return, according to prosecutors.

Nastu and the covert FBI employee had multiple text exchanges about meeting in person to engage in sexual activity, but Nastu ultimately decided not to meet due to the risk of being caught.

Natsu is currently detained and if convicted, he faces a maximum term of life in prison.

See related: Bridgeport Man Charged With Child Exploitation Crimes: Feds