Former Navy officer pleads guilty to having over 600 child abuse images, enticement of teen
Prosecutors said Douglas Engstrom traveled from his home state of Maryland to New York after agreeing to meet who he believed was a 13‑year‑old girl.
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A former U.S. Navy officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing and receiving more than 600 images and videos of child sexual abuse material, as well as the attempted interstate coercion and enticement of a minor.
Prosecutors said Douglas Engstrom traveled from his home state of Maryland to New York after agreeing to meet who he believed was a 13‑year‑old girl.
During plea proceedings, Engstrom said he spoke with a person he thought was a child, but was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.
He admitted to telling the undercover officer that he was a 36‑year‑old in the Navy and said he wanted to have oral, anal and vaginal sex with the girl while they were awake and unconscious.
Authorities said Engstrom booked a flight and hotel and arranged to meet in Valley Stream. On Dec. 16, 2023, he was arrested at the Valley Stream Long Island Rail Road station.
At the time of his arrest, Engstrom was carrying a large teddy bear that the undercover officer had asked him to bring for the child, according to prosecutors.
A review of Engstrom’s electronic devices uncovered what officials described as a “significant volume” of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material.
The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Engstrom faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
