Former “Jeopardy!” contestant Winston Nguyen has been arrested and charged with soliciting sexually explicit images of children, shocking the community and raising concerns about the safety of students in Brooklyn schools.
Nguyen, a former math teacher at St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn, New York, was charged with use of a child in sexual performance, promoting a sexual performance by a child, and enticing teenage students from four Brooklyn schools to send him images of nudity and sexual performances. The 37-year-old allegedly pretended to be a young teen and fellow student when engaging in conversations of a sexual nature over Snapchat.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez expressed deep concern over the allegations, stating, “The fact that he was a teacher and a trusted figure among students make these allegations even more troubling. We will now seek to hold him accountable and will continue to work diligently to protect children from sexual exploitation.”
Nguyen has been charged with crimes against five girls and one boy from independent Brooklyn schools, including Saint Ann’s School, Poly Prep Country Day School, Berkeley Carroll School, and Packer Collegiate Institute. The interactions allegedly took place between October 2022 and May 2024.
Kenyatte Reid, the head of school at Saint Ann’s, condemned Nguyen’s behavior as “deplorable and a deep violation of the trust we extended to him as a member of our community.” Nguyen had previously been charged with stealing over $300,000 from an elderly couple in 2018 and spent five months in prison after pleading guilty.
The news of Nguyen’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the community, prompting a reevaluation of safety measures in schools and the importance of protecting children from exploitation. The defendant was ordered to return to court on Oct. 17, 2024, with bail set at $30,000 cash or $75,000 bond.
This disturbing case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and accountability in safeguarding children from harm and exploitation.
