Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced that ANGAD BEHARRY, an NYPD officer, and GISAINET CRISTINA CHIRINOS VILORIA were arrested yesterday and each charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child. BEHARRY was also charged with an additional count of possession of child pornography.
The Complaint charges that from at least on or about August 31, 2022, through at least on or about September 3, 2022, the defendants conspired to induce a female minor (the “Victim”) to engage in sexually explicit conduct, to take sexually explicit photographs and videos of the Victim, and to transmit them over the Internet to BEHARRY. In addition, the Complaint charges that from at least in or about April 23, 2022, to June 20, 2023, BEHARRY knowingly possessed sexually explicit video and images of minors, including prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12. BEHARRY was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy and detained without bail. VILORIA was also presented yesterday in the Southern District of Indiana, where she was arrested, and detained without bail.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The alleged actions of Angad Beharry and Gisainet Cristina Chirinos Viloria are unconscionable and despicable. Moreover, Beharry, as New York City Police officer, is trusted in this community to protect us and stand up for what is right, but he now stands accused of victimizing a child to satisfy his own alleged repulsive desires. We encourage anyone with additional information pertaining to this case to contact HSI at 1-866-DHS-2423.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “Angad Beharry took an oath to protect the people of this great city. As alleged, he betrayed his duty, chose to serve his vile desires, and, in turn, is accused of the same heinous crimes he once swore to combat. Whether here or elsewhere around the world, HSI New York and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the safety of all individuals, especially those victims who are too young or vulnerable to do so themselves.”
As alleged in the Criminal Complaint:[1]
Between on or about August 31, 2022, and September 3, 2022, BEHARRY — using the alias “Gad” — asked VILORIA to take sexually explicit photographs of a nine-year-old child with whom VILORIA appeared to be acquainted, which VILORIA did and then transmitted the photographs to BEHARRY via WhatsApp. BEHARRY asked VILORIA the price “for everything” — and stated that he transmitted money to her.
In or about October 2022, members of the Colombian National Police rescued a one-year-old female from Medellin, Colombia, whose mother took sexually explicit photographs of her and distributed them via social media. The mother was arrested and reported to Colombian law enforcement that she had communicated with BEHARRY via Facebook, and that BEHARRY had asked her for sexually explicit material depicting sexual acts between the mother’s infant and the mother, among other requests. The mother also told law enforcement that she had a friend in Venezuela — i.e., VILORIA — who she believed was also in communication with BEHARRY.
In addition, between on or about April 23, 2022, and June 20, 2023, BEHARRY possessed multiple photographs and videos containing child sexual abuse imagery, including material depicting males engaged in sexual acts with young female children.
ANGAD BEHARRY, 46, of, Yonkers, New York, and GISAINET CRISTINA CHIRINOS VILORIA, 23, a citizen of Venezuela residing in Goshen, Indiana, are each charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. BEHARRY is additionally charged with one count of possession of child pornography depicting prepubescent minors or minors under the age of 12, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 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 the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI’s New York Child Exploitation Investigations Team, HSI’s Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, the Colombian National Police, and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau.
Mr. Williams stated that the investigation is ongoing and requests that any individuals with information concerning ANGAD BEHARRY and GISAINET CRISTINA CHIRINOS VILORIA and any individuals who may have encountered someone using the WhatsApp name “Gad,” please 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.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Ly and Kathryn Wheelock are 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 are only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
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