A former United States Navy officer pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Central Islip to attempting to coerce and entice a minor for sex after traveling from Maryland to Long Island to meet someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Douglas Engstrom, 38, of Hanover, Maryland, admitted to attempted interstate coercion and enticement of a minor during a hearing, according to federal prosecutors.
As part of his plea agreement, Engstrom also admitted possessing and receiving more than 600 images and videos of child abuse material discovered on his electronic devices.
Federal prosecutors said Engstrom communicated online with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. During those conversations, authorities said Engstrom identified himself as a 36-year-old Navy officer and discussed having sex with the child, including while she was unconscious.
Investigators said Engstrom arranged to meet the supposed girl in Valley Stream.
Authorities said Engstrom booked a flight and hotel room before traveling from Maryland to New York in December 2023. On Dec. 16, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested him at the Long Island Rail Road station in Valley Stream.
According to prosecutors, Engstrom was carrying a large teddy bear at the time of his arrest after the undercover officer requested he bring it for the girl.
Federal agents later searched Engstrom’s electronic devices using a court-authorized warrant and uncovered what prosecutors described as a significant volume of related material.
“Instead of honoring his oath to protect this country, former U.S. Navy officer Douglas Engstrom exploited some of our most vulnerable citizens – children – to satisfy his perverted desires,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “The FBI maintains its commitment to hold accountable sexual predators that prey upon children. We will never stop in our pursuit of justice for victims.”
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. Anyone with information about sexual exploitation by the defendant is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000.
