Federal Indictment Unveiled Against Man Who Made Assignation with Boy at Peekskill Motel

Stephen P. Brown was indicted today in White Plains federal court on federal charges of sexual exploitation, attempted sexual exploitation, attempted enticement, and distribution and possession of child pornography, according to an announcement from Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The five-count Indictment includes an incident in 2012 involving a boy in Sullivan County, NY, and incidents earlier this year.

On March 4, 2014, Brown was arrested in Peekskill by New York State law enforcement authorities. According to allegations in the federal Complaint, filed on June 16, 2014, his arrest in Peekskill followed his on-line communications with an undercover officer posing as an 11-year-old-boy.

As alleged in the federal Complaint, Brown made plans to meet the boy at a hotel in Peekskill to engage in sexual activity and to take sexually explicit photographs. He was arrested when he arrived at the designated location to meet the boy.

The Indictment filed today charges Brown with attempted sexual exploitation and attempted enticement, as had been charged in the federal Complaint. In addition, the Indictment charges that, in August 2012, he engaged in sexually explicit conduct in Sullivan County with a boy under the age of 11 for the purpose of producing sexually explicit photographs of such activity. Finally, the Indictment filed today charges him with receiving, possessing and distributing child pornography in 2012 through 2014.

The federal charges filed follow state charges against Brown in Manhattan, Westchester County, Sullivan County and Albany County.

BROWN will be arraigned in White Plains Federal Court Oct. 8.

Brown, 62, faces upon conviction on the charges of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation, a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on each count. For attempted enticement, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. For receipt and distribution of child pornography, he faces a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and for possession of child pornography, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The 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 the judge.

Mr. Bharara praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York County District Attorney’s Office, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, the City of New York Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Rockland County Computer Crimes Task Force in connection with this investigation.

The investigation is ongoing. Any individuals who believe they have information concerning Brown that may be relevant to the investigation should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Goshen, New York, at 1-845-615-1700.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution. The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.