In a case that has sent shockwaves through an elite Brooklyn private school, former Jeopardy! champion Winston Nguyen has been arrested for allegedly catfishing minors and soliciting explicit photos.
Nguyen, a 2014 Jeopardy! winner, faces serious charges for allegedly catfishing and receiving explicit photos from minors while employed as a teacher, as the New York Post reports.
The embattled educator was arrested in front of his students last month and turned himself in on Thursday to confront the charges. The criminal complaint against him includes 30 counts, and the extent of his alleged activities involves at least six minors between the ages of 13 and 15 from several prestigious schools in Brooklyn.
Nguyen’s alleged misconduct occurred between October 2022 and May 2023. He reportedly used two Snapchat accounts, "hunterkristoff" and "haircutbongos," to lure minors into sending explicit images. Assistant District Attorney Daniel Brian Newcombe described the situation, noting that Nguyen "elicited from those minors photographs sent to him in various forms of nudity."
The investigation revealed that Nguyen, who had a previous criminal record, employed social media to prey on his victims. Images of several minors were discovered on his phone, and the Snapchat accounts in question were traced back to wifi networks near his Harlem apartment.
Apart from using these accounts, the criminal complaint includes instances where Nguyen offered to pay a 15-year-old for a sexual video in May and sent explicit videos to a 14-year-old. The ongoing investigation is trying to uncover if Nguyen contacted minors beyond New York City as well.
Nguyen's attorney, Frank Rothman, acknowledged the severity of the accusations in court, referring to them as "quite disturbing." Rothman also mentioned that Nguyen's latest arrest is expected to result in a probation violation, stemming from a 2018 guilty plea when Nguyen admitted to stealing over $300,000 from an elderly couple.
Winston Nguyen began his employment at Saint Ann’s School in 2020. The news of his arrest has provoked outrage among the parents, with one parent stating, “A lot of parents are deeply shocked and angry about this -- that the school had allowed a convicted felon to become a teacher.”
None of the schools involved, including Berkeley Carroll School, Packer Collegiate Institute, Poly Prep Country Day School, and Saint Ann’s School, have issued any comments on the matter. Authorities continue to gather evidence, and Nguyen remains free on probation violations as his legal battles continue. Nguyen's history with the law has raised serious concerns among parents at Saint Ann’s, where he was teaching at the time of his arrest. Despite his previous criminal record and the ongoing legal issues, Nguyen managed to secure a teaching position at the prestigious institution.
The former Jeopardy! winner's criminal history includes a notable 2018 conviction for swindling an elderly couple out of more than $300,000. At the time of his recent arrest, Nguyen was still on probation, which may be revoked at his upcoming hearing on August 5. Investigators are also focusing on Nguyen's interactions with other minors, both within and potentially outside of New York. Police sources are concerned that hundreds of teens might have been contacted by Nguyen through his catfishing schemes.
Amid the distress, Assistant District Attorney Daniel Brian Newcombe has pointed to the broader implications of such predatory behavior on minors' mental and emotional health. The allegations have highlighted significant lapses in how educational institutions vet staff members, particularly those with a criminal background.
Given the high-profile nature of his television game show past and his established teaching role, the allegations against Nguyen strike a discordant note. Rothman’s candid comments -- "We always expected this day to come" -- reflect the level of forewarning that surrounded Nguyen’s questionable past and the inevitability felt by his defense team regarding his potential recidivism.
The legal system will now determine Nguyen's fate concerning both the new charges and his alleged probation violation. The Aug. 5 hearing looms large as a pivotal date that could see Nguyen's probation revoked. As police continue to piece together the full extent of Nguyen's alleged actions, the questions mount regarding the proper mechanisms schools should employ to safeguard students. Concerned parents and communities await answers and resolutions to prevent such troubling episodes from reoccurring.
