Former Pelham Middle School Teacher Pleads Guilty in White Plains Federal Court to Distributing Crack Cocaine and Traveling with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 17, 2011 |
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GREGG M. CAVALUZZI, 34, a former Pelham middle school teacher, pled guilty this afternoon to distributing crack cocaine and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor. CAVALUZZI pled guilty before U.S. District Judge KENNETH M. KARAS in White Plains federal court.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: "It is particularly disturbing that an educator, entrusted with the well-being of his students, was engaged in such heinous conduct. Thankfully, law enforcement caught on to him before he could cause any more harm. We are grateful to our partners at the FBI and Westchester County Police Department for helping us ensure that this defendant will be spending his time in a jail house, not a school house."
According to the two-count Information filed today in White Plains federal court, a previously filed complaint, and statements made during today's guilty plea proceeding:
On November 25, 2008, CAVALUZZI purchased approximately 10 grams of crack cocaine, which he intended to distribute, and did distribute, to others.
From May 19, 2009, through May 30, 2009, CAVALUZZI had numerous telephone conversations and text message exchanges with a police officer from the Westchester County Police Department who was posing as a 15-year-old girl. During the recorded telephone conversations and text message exchanges, CAVALUZZI and the undercover police officer discussed meeting to engage in sexual activity. On May 30, 2009, CAVALUZZI traveled through Connecticut en route to Elmsford, New York, where he intended to meet up with the undercover police officer, who he believed was a 15-year-old girl, for the purpose of having sex with her.
The Information charges CAVALUZZI with one count of crack distribution and one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The crack distribution count carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison. The traveling count carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison.
Following his arrest on May 31, 2009, CAVALUZZI was detained without bail and continues to be detained pending sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for May 2, 2011, before Judge KARAS.
Mr. BHARARA praised the efforts and assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Westchester County Police Department.
This case is being handled by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys KATHRYN MARTIN and MARCIA COHEN are in charge of the prosecution.