Class ended early for students at a private school in Brooklyn after their teacher was led away in handcuffs on allegations he shared sexualized images on social media.
Winston Nguyen, 37, who taught math at St. Ann’s School, a private school in the upmarket Brooklyn Heights area of the borough, had previously participated in the quiz show Jeopardy!
So far, Nguyen, who has been teaching at the fee-paying $60,000-a-year school since 2020, has not been charged with any offense, but is still a suspect in the investigation.
Nguyen has also found himself in legal jeopardy in the past.
In 2019, Nguyen was jailed on Rikers Island for four months after he stole $300,000 from a 96-year-old blind man and his 92-year-old wife, both of whom have since died.
Further investigations are taking place into Nguyen’s alleged conduct, according to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.
The school confirmed that he is being investigated for ‘the dissemination of intimate images via social media.’
‘Upon his arrest on Thursday, he was immediately placed on leave by the school and he remains on leave,’ a spokesperson explained.
The school’s principal, Kenyatte Reid, wrote to parents informing them of the arrest while asking for families who might have any further information regarding Ngyuen’s conduct to come forward.
‘This incident is very disturbing to all of us. We pride ourselves on our amazing faculty and a learning environment rooted in trust,’ Reid wrote.
Seven years ago, Nguyen had another brush with the law and was arrested after he stole $300,000 while working as a home aide for the elderly couple, the Stolls.
Nguyen pleaded guilty, serving jail time and probation while also being ordered to pay the money back.
Just three years later, Nguyen was teaching at the private school despite administrators being fully aware of his criminal record.
‘A nonviolent criminal record may not preclude employment,’ the St. Ann’s spokeswoman said.
‘The school gives a careful and discerning assessment of a job candidate’s potential fit with the school
‘We are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their efforts, and right now we’re focused on helping our students process this news.’
Parents of children at the exclusive school appeared disturbed by Nguyen’s arrest and criminal background.
‘What does the vetting process look like? What does the background process look like,’ one parent wondered to The Daily Beast.
‘The idea that this was a person that was close to my children…it’s terrifying. I see him as a manipulator and a con man,’ the parent added.
Famous Brooklynites who have attended St. Anns in years gone by include Girls creator Lena Dunham, actress Jennifer Connelly, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and Maya Hawk, the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.
When Nguyen worked as a home health aide he stole almost $300,000 from the elderly couple, Bernard and Florence Stoll, who were both in their 90s.
He was hired in 2009 to assist the blind man and his wife with day-to-day tasks.
He used the cash to pay for expensive ballet tickets, Broadway shows, and trips to Florida with his friends – all on his unsuspecting employer’s dime.
He worked for the pair for six years until he was finally arrested after the couple’s daughter-in-law found he had stolen from them.
Nguyen would use the couple’s bank account and credit cards making $100,000 in purchases and cash withdrawals.
He wrote himself $200,000 in checks and then opened up lines of credit using their information to the tune of $35,000.
He was able to mask the theft by changing the address on the couple’s bank statements to his own home address. He then doctored the statements to remove any of the fraudulent purchases.
Any calls from the banks asking about the money were also blocked after Nguyen placed a bar on the couple’s phone.
Following the discovery of the theft, Nguyen pleaded not guilty to 32 counts of grand larceny, possession of stolen property and identity theft.