Three Additional Children Came Forward After Initial Indictment

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the sentencing of BENVONTAY FOGLER, 29, to 6 years in prison and 10 years of post-release supervision for soliciting nude and sexual photographs and videos from children he met at schools and camps working as a flag football coach, teacher’s aide, and camp counselor. FOGLER solicited the images and videos from 7 children, ages 12 to 16, in exchange for cash and gifts. On May 9, 2024, FOGLER pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to multiple counts of Use of and Attempted Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance as a Sexually Motivated Felony.

“Benvontay Fogler used his positions at schools and camps to abuse numerous children over the course of more than four years,” said District Attorney Bragg. “I thank the many survivors who came forward, as well as our prosecutors and counselors who never stopped working to support them. Our Special Victims Division is here to help; please call us at 212-335-3400.” 

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, and as admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, between August 8, 2019, and October 29, 2023, FOGLER, who worked as a flag football coach, teacher’s aide, and camp counselor, solicited nude and sexual photographs and videos from at least seven children he coached using Snapchat. In return, FOGLER paid the children hundreds of dollars via Cashapp, or gave them gifts. In one instance, he paid a child more than $1,600 for sexual images.

Assistant D.A. Jonathan Junig (Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit) handled the prosecution of the case with Assistant D.A. Katherine Sullivan, under the supervision of Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division). Human Trafficking Unit Investigative Analyst Kirwan Carey assisted with the investigation.

D.A. Bragg thanked the Detective Liam O’Hara of the NYPD’s Human Trafficking Squad and Detective Juan Gomez of the NYPD Computer Crimes Detective Squad for their work on this investigation.

 

Defendant Information

BENVONTAY FOGLER

New York, NY

Convicted:

• Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance as a Sexually Motivated Felony, a class C felony, three counts
• Attempted Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance as a Sexually Motivated Felony, a class D felony, four counts

Sentenced:

• 6 years in state prison
• 10 years post-release supervision

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