Prospect Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for Engaging in Sexual Activity with Minor

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DENNIS ANTHONY SZANTYR, JR., 48, of Prospect, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 235 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for engaging in illegal sexual activity with a minor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on multiple occasions between November 2018 and October 2019, Szantyr used smart phones, tablets and other computer devices, and an interactive computer service, to entice a minor victim under the age of 16 to engage in sexual acts.  At times, including during the commission of the sexual acts between Szantyr and the minor victim, the victim was in the custody, care or supervision of Szantyr.  Szantyr also took videos of his sexual contact with the victim.

Szantyr has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on October 31, 2019.  On December 6, 2021, he pleaded guilty in federal court to enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Connecticut State Police.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.