Law enforcement officials announced Tuesday, June 23, that a 36-year-old Bronx man who had, in some cases, allegedly lured his victims by way of offering a tattoo service, and allegedly drugged others, has been charged with various sex offenses involving minors.

 

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced the return of a 10-count indictment charging Andrew Wilkinson, a/k/a “Steppa,” with convincing and enticing three minor female victims to engage in unlawful sexual activity with him, filming a sexually explicit video of a 15-year-old girl (“Minor Victim-1”), and drugging and sexually assaulting 17-year-old and 16-year-old girls (“Minor Victim-2” and “Minor Victim-3,” respectively).

 

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. Wilkinson was arraigned on the indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on Tuesday, June 23.

 

“As alleged, Andrew Wilkinson, a registered sex offender and serial predator, used social media to target vulnerable girls so he could drug them, sexually assault them, and film his abuse,” said Clayton. “Thankfully, Wilkinson’s illicit conduct was brought to light, and he will now have to answer to these serious charges. Our Office, along with our federal partners and the NYPD, are making a whole-of-government effort to rid our streets of sexual predators. That is what New Yorkers want. That is what we are delivering.”

 

He added, “The sexual assault of minors and the production and distribution of child pornography are too prevalent. I urge all New Yorkers to assist us in ridding our streets of predators. If you have been a victim of the alleged sexual abuse perpetrated by Wilkinson—or if you know anything about his alleged crimes or think you’ve experienced something similar—we encourage you to contact usanys.wilkinson-case@usdoj.gov or 212-637-0076.”

 

For her part, Tisch said, “This defendant, who is already a registered sex offender, allegedly used social media to lure underage girls to an unlicensed business for free tattoos and then drugged, raped, and recorded sexually explicit videos of them. This horrific behavior, especially the abuse of minors, has no place in our city.”

 

She added, “Thanks to the relentless work of our NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners, this predator is being held accountable. We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to protect survivors of sexual assault and ensure justice is served in this case.”

 

As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, Wilkinson drugged, sexually assaulted, and recorded sexual encounters with minor female victims.  A registered sex offender, he allegedly operated and advertised an unlicensed tattoo service and used his tattoo service as a means by which to gain access to minor victims to sexually abuse.

 

Prosecutors allege Wilkinson met and communicated with his victims primarily on social media platforms and utilized those platforms to convince his victims to travel to an apartment in The Bronx where he drugged, sexually assaulted, and filmed sexually explicit videos of them. The court heard that he allegedly drugged a 16-year-old girl and sexually abused her while she was physically incapacitated.

Prosecutors said that between at least in or about December 2024 and May 2025, Wilkinson allegedly repeatedly sent promotional messages offering free tattoos to Minor Victim-1, who was 14, and allegedly tried to convince Minor Victim-1 to meet him in person. On or about Jan. 27, 2025, after Minor Victim-1 turned 15, they said he allegedly convinced Minor Victim-1 to visit him, where he used a cellphone to record a sexually explicit video depicting Minor Victim-1.

 

In or around May 2025, prosecutors said Wilkinson met a second victim, who was 17, and allegedly convinced Minor Victim-2 to travel from Long Island to The Bronx to obtain a tattoo. While in The Bronx, Wilkinson allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted Minor Victim-2.

 

They said that on or about July 23, 2025, Wilkinson persuaded a third victim, who was 16, to travel to The Bronx where Wilkinson told Minor Victim-3 that he would provide a free tattoo if she played and won three card games. They said Wilkinson allegedly provided psilocin psychedelic mushrooms, methamphetamine, and an unidentified beverage to Minor Victim-3, causing her to lose consciousness. While Minor Victim-3 was impaired and unconscious, Wilkinson allegedly raped and sexually assaulted Minor Victim-3.

 

Anyone who has been victimized by Wilkinson, who officials say utilized the Instagram account “@tattzbysteppa,” among others, or who may have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, or anyone who has seen something similar, is asked to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York at (212) 637-0076 or email usanys.wilkinson-case@usdoj.gov and reference this case.

 

Norwood News has asked prosecutors for the address where the tattoo service was being offered and will share any updates we receive. The Instagram account is no longer active. We also asked for a photo of Wilkinson and will share it, if received.

 

Wilkinson, 36, of The Bronx is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison; and three counts of committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The latter must run consecutively to the other sex offenses.

 

He is further charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of distribution of a controlled substance with intent to commit rape, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

 

The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

 

Clayton praised what he described as the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD, the Special Agents, Task Force Officers, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

 

He also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the Connecticut State’s Attorney Office for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford, the Derby Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance.

 

The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana R. McCann is in charge of the prosecution.Wilkinson is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

As reported in March, Clayton announced that Winston Colon Correa, 34, of The Bronx was sentenced to 25 years in prison for enticing minors and possessing child pornography.

 

As reported, another Bronx man, Carlos Rivas, 22, was charged with possession of child pornography in August 2025. He is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

In September 2024, Bronx man Christian Brazoban, also known as “Bison,” 26, was sentenced on Sept. 25, 2024 at the federal courthouse in Central Islip by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 151 months in prison for distributing child pornography to three minor victims.  Brazoban pleaded guilty to the charge in January 2024.

 

In June 2024, as reported, Bronx daycare provider, Silfredo Castillo Martinez, then 32, who ran a daycare on Decatur Avenue in Norwood was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of a child and for producing child pornography.

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks to Norwood News about safety in childcare facilities during a visit to the early childhood center located on the campus of Bronx Community College in the University Heights section of The Bronx on Friday, March 6, 2026 in the context of his administration’s roll-out of a 2K childcare program later this year in certain designated areas of the City. Video by Síle Moloney

On March 6, Norwood News spoke to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani about child protection and safety in the context of the roll-out of 2K free childcare in School District 10 later this fall. Watch and read more here.