WINSTON NGUYEN SEXUAL ABUSE INVESTIGATION

LK Investigating Sex Crime Cases Involving Private School Teacher Winston Nguyen

Levy Konigsberg is currently investigating allegations of sexual abuse involving Winston Nguyen, a former math teacher at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, New York and a former Jeopardy champion.

Winston Nguyen, 37, faces charges for soliciting and distributing lewd images and videos of minors. Prosecutors allege that between October 2022 and May 2024, Nguyen posed as a teenager on Snapchat, where he reportedly reached out to kids between the ages of 13 and 16. The victims were students at some of Brooklyn’s top private schools, including Saint Ann’s, Poly Prep Country Day School, Berkeley Carroll School, and Packer Collegiate Institute.

The charges against Nguyen include:

• Use of a child in a sexual performance
• Promoting a sexual performance by a child
• Disseminating indecent material to minors
• Conspiracy
• Criminal solicitation
• Endangering the welfare of a child

Nguyen had a prior conviction for grand larceny, stemming from allegations that he stole over $300,000 from an elderly couple in his care. He pleaded guilty in 2018 and served five months of a six-month jail sentence, followed by a five-year probation. Despite this criminal history, Saint Ann’s School hired him in 2020.

In December 2024, Nguyen attended court, wearing an ankle monitor and a law firm hired by Saint Ann’s School concluded that top officials at the school knew that Nguyen was a felon when they hired him and ignored complaints by students and parents.  The school’s institutional negligence provides a basis for imposing liability under New York law.  Any student victimized by Nguyen should contact our experienced legal team for a confidential consultation as soon as possible.

Winston Nguyen’s History of Sexual Abuse

The ongoing investigation by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office has uncovered troubling details about Nguyen’s alleged crimes. As the investigation continues, prosecutors anticipate filing additional charges or legal actions as more victims come forward. 

Here are some details of the allegations against Winston Nguyen:

• In June 2024, Nguyen was taken into custody at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights, in full view of students, but was subsequently released without charges as authorities decided to delay prosecution pending a thorough investigation, including forensic analysis of his electronic devices. 

The school informed parents that he was a suspect in an ongoing probe involving the sharing of explicit images on social media. Following his arrest, Saint Ann’s School promptly placed him on administrative leave. After the charges came to light, St. Ann’s School terminated his employment.

• On July 25, 2024, the Brooklyn DA’s office made a public announcement regarding the arrest and charges against Nguyen related to soliciting and distributing explicit images/videos from minors.
• The DA revealed that Nguyen allegedly posed as a teenager on Snapchat to engage with minors. He faces charges related to five female and one male victim from private Brooklyn schools, including Saint Ann’s, Poly Prep, Berkeley Carroll, and Packer Collegiate Institute. Additionally, authorities suspect Nguyen may have had similar online interactions with many other children. 
• Between October 2022 and May 2024, Nguyen allegedly engaged in 11 incidents involving six minors. The initial four involved a 14-year-old who received explicit videos from a Snapchat account named “@HunterKristoff,” requesting nude images and lewd videos. The account was allegedly used in other explicit conversations with four more minors, aged 13–15.

• In May 2024, a 15–year–old victim received explicit messages from another account “@HaircutBongos,” leading to the exchange of a sexual video for payment. Nguyen allegedly shared some of the explicit photos from the victims with other minors.

The investigation linked the Snapchat accounts “@HunterKristoff” and “HaircutBongos” to IP addresses at Nguyen’s home at Harlem, with additional evidence including digital communications, images, and victim statements.

• In December 2024, a law firm hired by Saint Ann’s School determines that the leaders of the school were negligent and ignored warning signs of Nguyen’s sexual abuse and misconduct.

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:

• You were sexually abused by a teacher or staff at a school.
• The abuse occurred at any school.

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold schools accountable for their failures to stop abusive teachers and staff.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

• Your abuser is no longer alive.
• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

New York Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations: Private School Cases

A statute of limitations sets deadlines for victims to bring claims against their abuser or entities responsible for the abuse. New York has pioneered efforts to make it easier for sexual abuse survivors to seek justice and compensation.

In 2019, New York passed the Child Victims Act, expanding the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Under current law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse who were born after February 14, 1998 have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits.