Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced charges against RICHARD VIET NGUYEN for attempted enticement of one minor boy in Manhattan, New York. NGUYEN was arrested this morning and presented in Manhattan federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The conduct alleged against Richard Nguyen is as chilling and disturbing as one can imagine. The protection of our youth from predators has been and will remain of critical importance to this Office and our law enforcement partners.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “It’s unfathomable to believe anyone would see a five-year-old boy as a sexual being. What’s more despicable in this investigation, we allege the subject brought Benadryl to drug the child. The work these agents do is truly difficult, but so tremendously important to protecting children from predators. I want to commend what they do, and the fact that they show up every day despite how difficult their job can be.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
On or about October 20, 2021, an individual identified to be NGUYEN initiated a series of conversations on an instant messaging platform with an undercover FBI agent (“UC-1”), posing as the father of an 8-year-old boy and a 5-year-old boy. Thereafter, UC-1 and NGUYEN had numerous communications, include one oral communication, via the instant messaging platform.
In these conversations, NGUYEN expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with both children – including both oral and anal sex – and discussed potential arrangements for NGUYEN to engage in sexual activity with either child.
UC-1 and NGUYEN arranged to meet at a coffee shop in Manhattan on the morning of January 20, 2022, with the understanding that they would return to UC-1’s apartment afterward and NGUYEN would then engage in sexual activity with the youngest boy. On the morning in question, NGUYEN met UC-1 at the agreed-upon location. After the two of them left the coffee shop and began walking toward UC-1’s purported apartment, law enforcement arrested NGUYEN. NGUYEN was in possession of, among other things, children’s Benadryl and a condom in his pocket.
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NGUYEN, 29, of Manhattan, New York, is charged with one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(b) and 2, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Edward C. Robinson Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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