Christopher Jesus Constanzo, a 23-year-old resident of Torrington, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of three minors. The sentencing was announced by David X. Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and handed down by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford.
Constanzo’s offenses include the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl, the enticement and sexual assault of another 16-year-old girl, and the production of child pornography involving a 17-year-old girl.
Court documents reveal that on December 2, 2021, Constanzo attempted to cross into Canada with one of his victims at Highgate Springs, Vermont. After being denied entry at the St-Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing due to lacking COVID tests, they were stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers who separated them upon arrival at the border. The victim reported meeting Constanzo at Stillwater Pond State Park in Torrington where he sexually assaulted her before forcing her into her car’s trunk.
In July 2021, Constanzo used Snapchat to coerce another minor into meeting him at an abandoned warehouse in Torrington under threats against her life and that of her boyfriend if she did not comply. At this location, he sexually assaulted her at knifepoint.
Additionally, Constanzo recorded explicit Facetime videos with a third victim using his iPhone during the same month.
Constanzo has been detained since his arrest on December 2, 2021. He pleaded guilty on February 22, 2025, to charges related to child pornography production and admitted his actions against all three victims as part of a plea agreement.
The investigation involved several agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), CBP, Vermont State Police, Chittenden County Sheriff’s Office in Vermont, and Torrington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford and Neeraj N. Patel prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan expressed gratitude towards both the U.S Attorney’s Office for Vermont District and Litchfield Judicial District’s State’s Attorney for their assistance in this case’s investigation and prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood Initiative by the U.S Department of Justice aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.justice.gov/psc or report cases via www.cybertipline.com.
