With the arrest of Michael Costello, 39, the youth officer from the 114th Precinct in Astoria charged with soliciting undercover cops he believed to be young boys, many parents are concerned about their child’s safety while on the Internet.
“I am most definitely concerned about my child’s safety on the Internet,” said Nancy Credidio of Bayside, who has a 15-year-old. “The fact that [the suspect] was a cop just goes to show that nobody’s safe in this world — you can’t trust anyone.”
According to District Attorney Richard A. Brown, Costello “sent instant messages utilizing America Online and made arrangements to meet an individual who he believed was a 14-year-old boy to have sexual relations. The intended victim was actually an NYPD undercover detective conducting a ‘sting’ operation.
The DA said that the defendant on March 28, 30, 31 and April 1 allegedly sent Internet messages to the detective and that the defendant arranged in an instant message conversation to meet the detective at a coffee shop at Queens Boulevard and 67th Avenue at 8 p.m., writing, “U hop in and take your pants off… no one will see you… so I’ll be there at 8.”
He has been arraigned on charges of attempted use of a child in a sexual performance.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) here is a list of signs your child is in danger while surfing the Internet:
Here are some things you can do as a parent:
Arrest Of Youth Officer Puts Parents On Alert
By Toni Cimino
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