Posted on: September 06, 2019 02:00 PM

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Broadway show musician charged with sex crimes for attempting to lure 14 year old by to meet for intercourse

Queens Acting District Attorney John M. Ryan today announced that a Manhattan resident, who works on various Broadway shows as a pianist, has been charged with attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, attempted criminal sexual act and other crimes after allegedly being caught trying to meet with a 14-year-old boy for sex. The defendant, however, was actually communicating on the social media app Snapchat with an undercover police officer investigating cases involving the use of the internet to entice children to have sex and to create, distribute and possess pornography.

ActingDistrict AttorneyRyan said, ?This case underscores the crucial importance of internet surveillance efforts by law enforcement to protect children from sexual predators. However, in addition to police being proactive, this should also serve as a warning to parents that at all times they must closely monitor their children?s online activities - in particular on social media apps. The defendant, who was told numerous times that the person he was chatting with was an underage boy continued to pursue the ?youngster? and traveled from Manhattan to Queens to meet for sex.?

The District Attorney?s Office identified the defendant as Justin Brown, 26, of West 112th Street in Manhattan. The defendant is awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on an complaint charging him with attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, second- and third degree attempted criminal sexual act, first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors and attempted endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, Brown faces up to 7 years in prison.

According to the charges, said Acting DA Ryan, a police officer working undercover online and posing as a minor child on Monday, September 2, 2019, at approximately 11 a.m., utilized the Grindr app and received a text message allegedly from the defendant. Brown asked for the individual?s age and after being told 14, he allegedly responded ?nice? and asked about switching over to the Snapchat app. Around noon that same day on Snapchat, the ?teenager? received a message from Brown using the name ?jbplaysmusic1.? A sexually-explicit conversation ensued and the defendant allegedly sent a photo of his face and a picture of his penis to the ?boy.?

Continuing, according to the complaint, the defendant had numerous online conversations with the ?teen boy? between Monday and Thursday of this week. During those chats the defendant allegedly sent a video of himself masturbating, asked the boy if he was horny, the length of his penis and other sexually-explicit questions. Yesterday, September 5, 2019, the defendant asked the undercover police officer posing as a teenager about meeting up for sex. A location was chosen on Parsons Boulevard and that afternoon the defendant showed up and was arrested. His backpack allegedly contained a bottle of lubricant and condoms. When interviewed by police Brown allegedly admitted in sum and substance to the scheduled meeting with a 14-year-old and furthermore stated that he had been talking to numerous people who are underage.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Philip Adaszewski, of the New York City Police Department, under the supervision of Lieutenant Joseph Agresta and Captain Thomas Milano of the Vice Major Case Squad, and under the overall supervision of Inspector James Klein of the Vice Enforcement Division.

Assistant District Attorney Jamie-Lynn Burns, of the District Attorney?s Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Kateri A. Gasper, Chief of the Computer Crimes Unit, Gerard A. Brave, Bureau Chief of the District Attorney?s Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, Catherine C. Kane and Mary M. Lowenburg,

Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Wilbert J. LeMelle.

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. (From Queens DA's office)