MOUNT KISCO, NY — A registered sex offender living in Westchester County is now charged with the sexual exploitations Of children and receipt of child pornography while under supervision because of a previous conviction, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jamie McDonald, announced that Dustin Tompkins, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender. Tomkins, who is being detained on charges that he violated the terms of his supervised release, was presented in White Plains federal court.
"The Southern District of New York will use every available tool to protect children,"McDonald said. "Dustin Tompkins represents every parent's greatest fear: an adult who allegedly used social media to gain access to children and exploit them for his own sexual gratification. As alleged, while on supervision for a prior conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography, Tompkins used social media to communicate with minors and persuade them to create and send him sexually explicit images."
McDonald said that Tompkins is also alleged to have amassed additional child pornography via social media applications.
On March 18, 2015, Tompkins pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to receiving and distributing child pornography. He was sentenced to 77 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.
On Jan. 30, 2026, officers from the U.S. Probation Office conducted a routine supervisory visit and discovered hidden in Tompkins' bedroom an unsanctioned smartphone, according to the DOJ. A later court-authorized search of that smartphone found images of child pornography. The search of the smartphone further revealed that, on Jan. 24, 2026, Tompkins had created a messaging group using a social media application by which he received and viewed approximately 55 files containing child pornography, prosecutors said,
The smartphone search also found that Tompkins, using a second social media application, had posed as an adult woman and exchanged messages with minors, according to the charges.
Specifically, on Oct. 14, 2025, Tompkins directed a 13-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph the conduct, and send the photograph to him. Then, on Dec.26, 2025, Tompkins directed a 16‑year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph and record the conduct, and send the photograph and video to him.
Tompkins, 38, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, which each carry a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison. Tmpkins is also charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Additionally, Tomkins is charged with committing those offenses while being a registered sex offender, which requires a sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed pursuant to those felony criminal counts.
Prosecutors believe there may be other victims. If you have information to report, contact the FBI at 1‑800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
This case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Briggs and John Wynne are in charge of the prosecution.
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