Former Westchester Legislative Aide Pleads Guilty in Federal Child Sex Case

A former staff member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges involving an attempted sexual encounter with a minor and the possession of child sexual abuse material, bringing a key turning point in a case that traces back to a 2022 online sting.

Anand Singh, 35, of Tarrytown, entered the plea Thursday in U.S. District Court in White Plains, according to court records and reporting by News 12 Westchester. Appearing before U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti, Singh acknowledged that he traveled with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity with a minor and that he possessed child pornography.

Prosecutors said the case centers on online communications in December 2022, when Singh allegedly used dating applications and text messages to exchange sexually explicit messages with a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl. Authorities say the conversations were intended to lead to a sexual meeting.

The investigation began after a civilian group called OBL Global carried out an online decoy operation. Members of the group posed as a minor, communicated with Singh, and arranged a meeting at an apartment building in Newark, New Jersey. When Singh arrived, the group confronted and recorded him. The video was later posted publicly in April 2023.

Shortly after the video surfaced, Singh was dismissed from his job with the Westchester County Board of Legislators. He had also previously worked for the Yonkers City Council.

Federal law enforcement later assumed responsibility for the case. Singh was arrested on May 1, 2023, in White Plains and charged with attempting to entice a minor, a violation of federal law. According to a statement issued at the time by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a possible life sentence.

After his arrest, Singh was briefly held in custody and later released on a $700,000 unsecured bond backed by family members.

Singh is now scheduled to be sentenced in May 2026. At Thursday’s court appearance, Judge Briccetti revoked his bond and ordered that he be taken into custody while he awaits sentencing. In addition to the enticement offense, he faces punishment related to the child-pornography charge.