Anthony Michael Souza, a former arts and theater teacher in New York City public schools, was sentenced on Apr. 6 to 150 months in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla after Souza pleaded guilty to the charges.
The case highlights concerns about the safety of children in educational environments and the responsibilities entrusted to teachers. According to United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, “New York City parents trusted Anthony Michael Souza to keep their children safe. Souza betrayed that trust by sharing ghastly child pornography and preying on minors, including his own students. Today’s sentence affirms yet again this Office’s unwavering commitment to protect our children and to find and prosecute individuals who traffic in child pornography.”
According to court documents, filings, plea agreements, and statements made during proceedings, Souza served as a teacher for three years leading up to his arrest in 2024. His students ranged from kindergarten through high school across multiple city schools. During this period, he sent and received approximately 250 videos and around 1,050 images containing child pornography—some depicting abuse of children including infants and toddlers.
Investigators also found that Souza took sexualized photographs and videos of young clothed children inside his classrooms which he then shared with others involved in similar criminal activities. In addition to these offenses, authorities reported that Souza maintained a sexual relationship with a minor identified as “Minor-1” over more than a year; he filmed encounters with Minor-1 and involved other adults in group acts with the minor. There was also evidence that he attempted unsuccessfully to groom another student referred to as “Minor-2,” but was thwarted when Minor-2 blocked him after hanging up during an inappropriate phone call.
Souza has been sentenced not only to prison but also five years of supervised release following completion of his term. Clayton praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its work on this case.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Getzel Berger from the General Crimes Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
