Registered Sex Offender Charged With Coercion And Enticement Of 15-Year-Old In Orange County

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today an Indictment charging CURTIS ELLINGTON with enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity and committing this offense while being a registered sex offender.  ELLINGTON was arrested in Kansas on April 27, 2023, and detained pending his transfer to White Plains federal court.  Today, ELLINGTON was arraigned in White Plains and detained.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Curtis Ellington, a convicted rapist, was allegedly undeterred by his previous involvement with the criminal justice system.  This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them.  We will use every tool available to law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those alleged to have sexually exploited children.  We encourage anyone who may have additional information into Curtis Ellington’s conduct to please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.” 

As alleged in the Complaint filed on April 26, 2023, and the Indictment filed on May 24, 2023, in White Plains federal court:[1]

CURTIS ELLINGTON was convicted on or about January 12, 2007, in Orange County Court of Rape in the First Degree: Intercourse with A Person Less Than 11 Years Old and sentenced to seven years in prison.  As a result of this conviction, ELLINGTON is required to register as a sex offender. 

On or about April 7, 2023, ELLINGTON slept at the home of a 15-year-old minor (“Victim-1”) and, while there, engaged in sexual activity with Victim-1.  Prior to engaging in sexual activity with Victim-1, ELLINGTON and Victim-1 engaged in numerous communications via Instagram in which ELLINGTON, who used the Instagram screen name “Godson,” discussed his desire to engage in sexual activity with Victim-1.

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ELLINGTON, 33, of Junction City, Kansas, is charged in Count One with enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity and in Count Two with engaging in this offense while a registered sex offender.  Count One carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  Count Two carries a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison, which must be imposed to run consecutive to any sentence imposed in connection with Count One. 

The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams stated that the investigation is ongoing.  Mr. Williams requests that any individuals who have information with respect to CURTIS ELLINGTON contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the FBI, the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, and the Middletown Police Department in connection with this investigation.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.  

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