Former CT zoning official sentenced to 18 months in prison for child exploitation
HARTFORD — A former Bridgeport zoning official has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for a child exploitation offense, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Michael Nastu, 63, is free on a $100,000 bond and is required to report to prison on March 13, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said in a news release.
Judge Omar A. Williams sentenced Nastu on Wednesday in federal court in Hartford. Nastu will serve three years of supervised release after his prison term, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Nastu's charge stems from his conversation with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 14-year-old girl on Kik, a social media application. Nastu initiated the chat and, from March 31 to June 25, 2021, Nastu sent the covert employee sexually explicit messages and several pictures and videos of male genitalia, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Nastu also “attempted to entice the OCE (online covert employee) to send him child pornography in return,” according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Nastu and the FBI employee exchanged messages about meeting in person to engage in sexual activity, the U.S. Attorney's office said. However, prosecutors claimed Nastu opted not to “due to the risk of being caught.”
Nastu was arrested on June 30, 2021. Nastu, who worked as a food service employee in an Easton school, was fired from his job following his arrest, according to a report from News12.
On Sept. 22, 2022, he pleaded guilty to the attempted transfer of obscene materials to a minor, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Nastu resigned on Sept. 29, 2021 as an appointed member of the Bridgeport Zoning Board of Appeals after being a member since May 2020.
Those who have suffered from sexual violence can speak to specialists for support, information, advice or a referral by calling the free and confidential National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673). Those who wish to chat online with trained specialists, which is also free and confidential, can also go to RAINN.org/Get-Help. Help is available 24/7. To report cases of child exploitation, visit www.CyberTipline.com.