QUEENS, NY — A New York City police officer has been charged with attempting to send sexually explicit material to an undercover officer he believed was a 14-year-old girl, Queens prosecutors announced Thursday.
Travis Desouza, 35, of Briarwood, was arraigned on charges including attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors, official misconduct, third-degree obscenity, and attempted endangering the welfare of a child. Queens Criminal Court Judge Maria Gonzalez ordered him to return to court on June 11. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.
Key Points:
- NYPD officer Travis Desouza allegedly sent explicit content to an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old.
- Desouza was charged with multiple crimes, including official misconduct and obscenity.
- The investigation targeted Desouza’s conduct within the NYPD’s Law Enforcement Explorers youth program.
Alleged misconduct tied to youth program role
Desouza was assigned to a Brooklyn precinct and worked with the Law Enforcement Explorers, a mentorship program aimed at young people interested in law enforcement careers. The undercover operation was launched to investigate his interactions with participants.
On October 3, 2024, Desouza met the undercover officer posing as a teen, confirmed her age, and exchanged contact information. Subsequent conversations occurred over the Snapchat app, where Desouza allegedly used disappearing messages to communicate.
According to the complaint, Desouza sent a photo of a man in boxer shorts grabbing his genitals to the undercover officer on October 10, 2024, followed by sexually explicit messages.
District Attorney slams abuse of trust
“As alleged, this defendant took advantage of his position with the NYPD to prey on someone he thought was a 14-year-old,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. “The Explorers is an amazing program and our kids need to trust and have faith in its leaders.”
Authorities said the inappropriate communications occurred while the undercover officer was located inside an NYPD office building in Queens, highlighting the seriousness of the breach of conduct.
Officer awaits next court date
Desouza remains free pending his next court appearance. The NYPD is assisting in the ongoing investigation into his actions.