NEW YORK—A former educator known for his success on the game show “Jeopardy!” received a seven-year prison sentence following his guilty plea to charges related to posing as a teenager on social media to acquire explicit imagery from minors. Winston Nguyen, 38, previously a math teacher at a prestigious private school in Brooklyn, was convicted of using a child in a performance of a sexual nature and for multiple counts of endangering child welfare. He is mandated to register as a sex offender post-release.
The investigation revealed that Nguyen, who taught at Saint Ann’s School located in Brooklyn Heights, used Snapchat to present himself as a teenage boy. By doing so, he manipulated children into exchanging explicit photos and videos, while also distributing nude content himself. The victims, all city schoolchildren, ranged from 13 to 15 years old during the incidents.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned Nguyen’s actions, describing them as a significant breach of trust by an educator responsible for soliciting graphic content from his students. He emphasized the severity of such misconduct by someone in a position of authority.
In response to the sentencing, Nguyen’s attorney, Frank Rothman, communicated through an email that his client expressed genuine remorse for his actions and was open to participating in restorative processes suggested by the affected families, though acknowledging the likelihood of that offer being declined.
Nguyen’s appearance on “Jeopardy!” dates back to 2014, highlighting his diverse background before his criminal activities came to light.
