Former Pelham Middle School Teacher Sentenced in White Plains Federal Court to Five Years for Distributing Crack Cocaine and Traveling with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GREGG M. CAVALUZZI, 34, a former Pelham middle school teacher, was sentenced to five years in prison and five years of supervised release for distributing crack cocaine and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor. CAVALUZZI pled guilty on February 17, 2011, before U.S. District Judge KENNETH M. KARAS, who imposed today’s sentence in White Plains federal court.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: “It is a sad day when a promising teacher and athletics coach is sentenced to five years in prison. Unfortunately, Gregg Cavaluzzi preordained this day by his reckless and very serious illegal behavior. To their credit, our law enforcement partners detected and arrested this defendant before he was able to engage in further dangerous and predatory conduct.”

In sentencing CAVALUZZI, Judge KARAS said: “I don’t know if I ever saw a more stark contrast between the two lives Mr. CAVALUZZI led,” and urged him to lead an upstanding life in the future.

According to statements made during the sentencing and documents filed in this case:

On November 25, 2008, CAVALUZZI purchased approximately 10 grams of crack cocaine, which he intended to distribute, and did distribute, to others.

From May 19, 2009, through May 30, 2009, CAVALUZZI had numerous telephone conversations and text message exchanges with a police officer from the Westchester County Police Department who was posing as a 15-year-old girl. During the recorded telephone conversations and text message exchanges, CAVALUZZI and the undercover police officer discussed meeting to engage in sexual activity. On May 30, 2009, CAVALUZZI traveled through Connecticut en route to Elmsford, New York, where he intended to meet up with the undercover police officer, who he believed was a 15-year-old girl, for the purpose of having sex with her.

Mr. BHARARA praised the efforts and assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Westchester County Police Department.

This case is being handled by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys KATHRYN MARTIN and MARCIA COHEN are in charge of the prosecution.