Sandy Carazas-Pinez: Former New York Teacher Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexual Abuse of Special Needs Student
A former New York teacher has been handed a severe prison sentence for the sexual abuse of a vulnerable student. The sentencing marks the end of a disturbing case which has haunted a school for special needs students in Yonkers.
On Friday, September 19, 2025, Sandy Carazas-Pinez, 36, of Bethel, Connecticut, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
The sentencing came after she pleaded guilty to enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan also ordered five years of supervised release and mandated that Carazas-Pinez register as a sex offender for life.
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| Sandy Carazas-Pinez |
According to police reports, between November 2022 and February 2023, Carazas-Pinez systematically abused her position as a teacher, and her victim was a 16-year-old male student with special needs.
She worked at the Biondi School, which serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Prosecutors stated that Carazas-Pinez coerced the teenager into believing they were in a romantic sexual relationship, as per New York Post.
She used her personal cell phone to send texts that were "sexual in nature" and even sent explicit photos of herself, instructing the boy to delete them afterward.
Authorities also detailed how Carazas-Pinez used her phone to arrange in-person meetings and video calls.
She convinced the student to obtain day passes to leave school grounds, then picked him up in her car for them to have sex.
These sexual encounters happened in parked cars across multiple locations, including the Bronx, Yonkers, and Staten Island.
According to PEOPLE, during their video calls, she forced the victim to livestream sexually explicit conduct, which she referred to as "gifts,"
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| Sandy Carazas-Pinez |
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| Sandy Carazas-Pinez |
The indictment states that the victim repeatedly expressed a desire to end the relationship. However, Carazas-Pinez allegedly threatened to remove his school privileges if he refused to continue, creating a cycle of coercion and control.
“I know for me it isn’t going to be easy, I will miss your kisses, hugs and everything," Carazas-Pinez wrote in one text message, as revealed by prosecutors.
Their inappropriate relationship finally unraveled in February 2023 when school officials became suspicious after seeing Carazas-Pinez off-campus with the student in her car.
She was also reported for having "close contact" with the victim in her classroom. The school, which is operated by the nonprofit Rising Ground, terminated her employment in March 2023 after an investigation.
Even after she was fired, Carazas-Pinez attempted to cover her tracks. She contacted the victim from a new phone number, asking if anyone had seen them together and instructing him again to delete all their messages.
She was eventually arrested and indicted on criminal charges in July 2023. Prior to her sentencing, Judge Cronan revoked her bail after she violated conditions by emailing another former student the day after he turned 18. Even her own attorney called her actions “troubling.”
Sandy Carazas-Pinez betrayed her role and, through explicit texts and other means, coerced a 16-year-old into a sexual relationship,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams while emphasising on the profound breach of trust.
“Actions of this type by anyone, particularly a teacher or other person of trust, will not be tolerated,” he warned.
This 25-year sentence ensures that the former New York teacher will be held accountable for her actions, providing a measure of justice for the victim and his family.
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