Former Physics Teacher Arrested for Possessing Child Pornography, Soliciting Minors
A former physics teacher from Manhattan, Kostas Fekkas, has been arrested and charged with receiving child pornography. The 34-year-old Hartsdale resident was also charged with possessing child pornography and attempting to transfer obscene material. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, Fekkas had been working as a physics teacher in a public charter school in Manhattan before his arrest. He had previously worked at schools in the Bronx and Westchester.
The arrest came following an investigation in which Fekkas unknowingly engaged with an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl on the messaging app Kik. In December of last year, Fekkas introduced himself to the agent, sharing that he was a 30-year-old high school physics teacher. Using the username C.J.Justice, he sent explicit photos of himself to the undercover agent, including a video and photographs of an erect penis, one of which was taken inside a classroom. Fekkas also repeatedly requested explicit photos from the fictitious 13-year-old girl, described sexual acts he wanted to perform with her, and claimed to have engaged in sexual activity with a 10th grader in the past. He expressed his intention to find another minor for sexual encounters.
Law enforcement officials seized Fekkas’ cell phone and conducted a search, which resulted in the discovery of a video depicting a young female engaging in sexual activity and two nude photos of the same girl. The girl, who was only 12 years old, was identified by law enforcement due to a bracelet she was wearing that matched a Snapchat account linked to Fekkas.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is encouraging anyone with additional information regarding the case to contact them at 1-866-DHS-2423.
This arrest highlights the importance of vigilance in combating child pornography and the solicitation of minors. It serves as a reminder of the need for continuous efforts to protect children from online predators. The charges against Kostas Fekkas reflect the severity of his actions and the potential harm he posed to vulnerable individuals. Law enforcement agencies are working diligently to identify and prosecute individuals involved in such criminal activities.
