Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that MATTHEW TIVY was arrested in Manhattan today and charged in a criminal complaint with two counts stemming from his sexual exploitation and enticement of a minor and his receipt and distribution of child pornography.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, Matthew Tivy took advantage of a minor for his own sexual gratification, even when he knew the minor was only in high school. He then allegedly shared the video he recorded of his encounter with others. Tivy allegedly targeted and exploited vulnerable and innocent children, and for that, he will now face the criminal consequences. I want to thank the FBI and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its collaboration in this investigation.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriquez said: “As alleged, Tivy used a dating app to meet minors, even acknowledging their age on text messages after they met. He then allegedly shared the sexually explicit videos of the minors with others through Internet sharing communities. This case would not be possible without the outstanding collaboration between the FBI and the Office of Manhattan’s District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. The FBI will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who sexually exploit our children.”

According to the Complaint¹:

From December 2014, TIVY initiated online communications with a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy (“Victim-1”), and enticed Victim-1 to engage in illegal sexual activity. The Complaint further alleges that TIVY engaged in sexual acts with Victim-1, enticed Victim-1 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, and then distributed these visual depictions to others online.

TIVY, 53, of Manhattan, New York, is charged with one count of enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. TIVY is also charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

There may be more victims of this alleged conduct; if you have information report, call the FBI at 212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

Mr. Bharara praised the efforts of the FBI in this investigation. He added that the investigation is continuing. He also thanked the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its participation and support in this ongoing investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Jilan Kamal is in charge of the prosecution.

The allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

¹As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.