Mount Vernon, NY — A Mount Vernon man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for coercing and exploiting a minor, marking one of the harshest sentences for child exploitation ever handed down in Westchester County.
Tyquan Brown, 44, was sentenced on October 15 by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas following his December 2024 guilty plea to coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Brown used social media and online messaging platforms to lure a teenage victim into performing sexual acts, which he then recorded and threatened to share. Prosecutors said Brown’s conduct was both manipulative and calculated — using intimidation and emotional control to exploit the child.
“This case is every parent’s nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “The defendant preyed on a young victim’s vulnerability for his own gratification. Today’s sentence ensures that he will never again have the chance to harm another child.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, led by District Attorney Susan Cacace.
In a statement following the sentencing, DA Cacace commended federal partners and emphasized the ongoing commitment to protecting children in Westchester County:
“The justice system worked together to bring accountability and protection. Every child deserves to grow up safe, and this outcome sends a strong message to those who would attempt to exploit our most vulnerable.”
Judge Karas also ordered lifetime supervised release and that Brown register as a sex offender upon completion of his sentence.
Community advocates are calling for greater awareness of online grooming and parental involvement in monitoring children’s digital activity. “Predators aren’t hiding in dark alleys anymore — they’re hiding behind screens,” said one Mount Vernon parent interviewed by Black Westchester. “We need stronger education, tougher laws, and more honest conversations in our homes.”
Community Alert:
If you suspect child exploitation or online grooming, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or submit confidential tips at CyberTipline.org.
