New York teacher sentenced to 25 years for sexually abusing 16-year-old student at special-needs school
Former NYC educator convicted of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, sentenced by U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan
A former New York City teacher was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison for sexually abusing a 16-year-old student at a Yonkers school for kids with special needs, prosecutors said. U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan also ordered five years of supervised release following the prison term in the case tied to a decade-endangering breach of trust by a teacher.
Between November 2022 and February 2023, Sandy Carazas-Pinez, 36, a former New York City public school teacher, allegedly steered her 16-year-old pupil toward a false romantic relationship and coerced the student into sexual activity. Prosecutors said she used her cellphone to text, call and video chat with the boy to arrange encounters and directed him to live-stream “sexually explicit conduct” during video calls. In some messages, she referred to the livestreams as gifts, according to investigators.
The abuse reportedly occurred while the student attended a city-funded Yonkers school for children with special needs. Carazas-Pinez is alleged to have taken steps to facilitate the encounters, including directing the student to obtain day passes from his school to leave campus and meet her in locations around the Bronx, Yonkers and Staten Island. Prosecutors say she texted sexually suggestive pictures and messages and then instructed the teen repeatedly to delete them.
Carazas-Pinez, who was a married mother of three, was terminated from the Biondi School, a program operated by the nonprofit Rising Ground, in March 2023. The school and its employees have been the subject of increased scrutiny in light of the case.
"Sexual exploitation by teachers offends every New Yorker," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said in a statement. "Sandy Carazas-Pinez betrayed her role and, through explicit texts and other means, coerced a 16-year-old into a sexual relationship. Actions of this type by anyone, particularly a teacher or other person of trust, will not be tolerated."
The sentencing follows a long legal process. Cronan had previously ordered Carazas-Pinez held without bail after she violated bail conditions by contacting a former student. She was barred from unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, yet she emailed another former student a day after that student turned 18 to wish him a happy birthday, according to prosecutors. Her defense attorney characterized the behavior as troubling at the time but argued for consideration of other factors at sentencing.
The criminal case centers on the period from late 2022 to early 2023 and highlights ongoing concerns about safeguarding in educational settings. While the location and situation involve state and local schools, the federal filing underscores the reach of federal charges when a teacher engages in sexual activity with a minor and uses electronic communications to facilitate the misconduct. The court’s decision to impose a 25-year sentence reflects the severity of violating the trust placed in an educator responsible for the welfare of students with special needs.
Images from the case file provide a visual record of the legal proceedings and the institutions involved in the matter. The parties have not highlighted any additional charges beyond the federal indictment and related sentencing.
With the sentence in place, the case closes a chapter in concerns over teacher conduct and student safety, while prosecutors emphasized that the consequences will be severe for those who abuse students or the adults charged with their care. The situation also underscores the ongoing need for robust safeguards and monitoring within school programs that serve vulnerable youth. The public and protective agencies involved said they will continue to review policies and procedures to prevent similar harm in the future.