A Bronx man, Anthony Wallace, has been found guilty of multiple offenses involving the kidnapping and sexual abuse of a minor, as well as child pornography charges. The verdict was delivered by a jury after a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.
According to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, “Anthony Wallace used lies, threats, and violence to sexually abuse a 15-year-old minor victim over the course of a month, ultimately bringing the victim to the Bronx where he forced her to stay with him in a barricaded apartment. The victim eventually was able to escape and alert law enforcement, and I commend her for her bravery. Our Office remains unwavering in our commitment to protecting children and ensuring that those who harm them face the full weight of the justice system.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that in March 2024, Wallace met the 15-year-old girl in Binghamton, New York. Over four weeks, he kept her against her will in an apartment there, assaulted her physically and sexually, forced her to alter her appearance by dyeing her hair and wearing a mask, and provided her with drugs including methamphetamine and marijuana. During this period, Wallace produced child pornography involving the minor.
On April 1, 2024, Wallace transported the girl from Binghamton across state lines to an apartment in the Bronx. There he continued his abuse until April 4 when she escaped through a window while Wallace was asleep. She called 911 immediately after escaping and was later reunited with her parents.
Wallace faces several charges: kidnapping a minor (mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years up to life), coercion and enticement of a minor for illegal sex (10 years minimum up to life), transportation of a minor across state lines for illegal sex (10 years minimum up to life), possession of child pornography (up to 10 years), and production of child pornography (15 years minimum up to 30 years). Sentencing is scheduled for April 23, 2026.
Jay Clayton acknowledged “the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the New York City Police Department.” He also thanked Broome County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariana L. Bloom, Remy Grosbard, Joseph H. Rosenberg, Alexandra N. Rothman from the General Crimes Unit with support from Paralegal Specialists Samantha Roberts and Benjamin Coolman.
