Former Navy Officer Douglas Engstrom Pleads Guilty to Enticing Minor

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Douglas Engstrom, a former officer in the United States Navy, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to one count of attempted interstate coercion and enticement of a minor.

The proceeding took place before U.S. District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury. As part of the plea agreement, Engstrom stipulated that he possessed and received more than 600 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. The U.S. Department of Justice announcement states that Engstrom faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison at his eventual sentencing.

The guilty plea resolves the criminal case against Engstrom in this matter. Federal law requires courts to impose at least the 10-year mandatory minimum for the enticement offense to which he pleaded guilty. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

The conviction triggers sex-offender registration requirements upon release and bars Engstrom from any future military service or security clearances. The admission regarding more than 600 images and videos of child sexual abuse material will factor into the sentencing guidelines calculation and may affect decisions on supervised release conditions after any prison term.

This case forms part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to prosecute individuals who produce, distribute or possess child sexual abuse material or attempt to engage minors in sexual activity using interstate commerce. The Eastern District of New York has handled multiple similar prosecutions in the past 12 months involving former service members and federal employees.