High School Teacher From Westchester Who Coerced Minors To Make Child Sex Abuse Pornography Gets 13 Years

HARTSDALE, NY — A former high school teacher will spend years behind bars for abusing a position of trust for despicable reasons.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY, Jay Clayton, announced on Thursday that 36-year-old Kostas Fekkas, a/k/a "Constantine Fekkas," a/k/a "C.J. Justice," of Hartsdale, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after previously pleading guilty in September to coercing and enticing two minors to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.

In addition to prison, Fekkas was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.

Prosecutors said in 2023 that prior to his arrest, Fekkas was a teacher at a public charter high school in upper Manhattan. He also previously worked at several other schools in Westchester County and the Bronx.

"Teachers are entrusted with the safety, mentorship, and care of our children," Clayton said. "Instead of keeping them safe, Kostas Fekkas coerced a 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old teenager into sending him sexually explicit photographs and video of themselves. Today's 13-year sentence reflects the seriousness of that betrayal and the profound harm caused to these victims. This Office will never stop aggressively pursuing predators who sexually exploit our city's children. If you suspect sexual exploitation, please reach out to our law enforcement partners."

According to court documents, in 2022, Fekkas coerced a 12-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photos and video of herself through Snapchat.

When authorities searched Fekkas's cellphone in March 2023, they found a video of the victim masturbating, along with still shots taken from the same video.

In addition, from October 2022 through September 2023, Fekkas had sexually explicit text message conversations with a 16-year-old girl, and coerced and enticed her to send him sexually explicit photos and video of herself.

Clayton praised the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Ly in charge of the prosecution.

Anyone with information about the sexual exploitation of children is asked to contact Homeland Security Investigations, 24 hours a day, through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2423 or through the online tip form. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing-impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.