Two German Nationals Charged With Enticement And Sexual Abuse Of A Minor

Thomas Alexander Brandenstein and John-Philipp Piehl-Brandenstein Allegedly Enticed a 15-Year-Old Boy to Engage in Sexual Activity and Then Traveled to New York to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity with the Minor 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging THOMAS ALEXANDER BRANDENSTEIN and JOHN-PHILIPP PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN with enticing a 15-year-old victim (the “Minor Victim”) to engage in sexual activity and then traveling across state lines in order to engage in illicit sexual activity with the Minor Victim.  BRANDENSTEIN was arrested on September 29, 2023, in Queens, New York, and was presented yesterday in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron.  PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN remains at large.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Thomas Alexander Brandenstein and John-Philipp Piehl-Brandenstein preyed upon a 15-year-old victim for sex and then traveled from Germany to the United States, where they met with the victim and engaged in illegal sexual acts at a Manhattan hotel.  My Office is committed to keeping our borders safe from sexual predators, and thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office, Brandenstein and Piehl-Brandenstein have now been charged for their egregious conduct.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “The defendants are alleged to have traveled thousands of miles to commit unimaginable crimes against an underage victim.  These charges serve as notice to anyone contemplating such heinous acts that we will take every measure necessary to safeguard the children of New York.  HSI New York is proud of the collaboration with our federal partners to charge these predators before they could inflict more trauma on young New Yorkers.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

From March 2023 through July 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN, who are German nationals, enticed the Minor Victim, who was 15 years old at the time, to engage in illegal sexual activity.  While in Germany, BRANDENSTEIN used internet-enabled messaging applications to send sexually explicit communications to the Minor Victim, including an image of a naked male in which the male’s penis was exposed.  BRANDENSTEIN also sent sexually explicit videos to the Minor Victim, which depicted BRANDENSTEIN lying in bed, blowing kisses, and exposing his penis and masturbating, among other things.  BRANDENSTEIN further communicated with the Minor Victim over these messaging applications about his plans to travel to New York with PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN, sending the Minor Victim a video message depicting the two men on an airplane and writing, “next stop, New York.”

In June 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN traveled from Germany to Florida and then New York, where they met with the Minor Victim to engage in illegal sexual activity at a Manhattan hotel (the “Hotel”).  Between July 5, 2023, and July 13, 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN reserved a room at the Hotel (the “Room”).  BRANDENSTEIN brought the Minor Victim to the Room and BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN engaged in illegal sexual activity with the Minor Victim.  Some of that illegal sexual activity was video recorded.  On July 13, 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN departed from New York and returned to Germany. 

There may be more victims of this alleged conduct.  If you have information to report about sexual abuse or sexual assault perpetrated by THOMAS ALEXANDER BRANDENSTEIN or JOHN-PHILIPP PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN, contact HSI through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2423 or sextrafficking_outreach@hsi.dhs.gov and reference this case.  From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199.  Hearing-impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

BRANDENSTEIN, 57, of Berlin, Germany, and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN, 38, of Berlin, Germany, are charged with one count of enticing a minor victim to engage in illegal sexual activity, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. 

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative efforts of HSI and the New York City Police Department.  He added that the investigation is ongoing.   

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi S. Steiner is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are 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.