Police arrested on Friday a male teacher and debate coach at the Bronx High School of science on charges of persuading teenage boys to send him their naked images through their mobile phones. In turn, he promised to give them gift cards.

Jon Cruz, 32, the teacher, however, did not use his real identity when he chatted with them through messaging app Kik. He pretended to be a high school student, reports the New York Times. But the FBI was able to trace the Kik account to Cruz through his Internet protocol addresses.

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Cruz was charged with one count of production of child pornography and one count of receiving child pornography, said the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan. The criminal complaint filed with the office claimed that between August 2014 and February 2015, Cruz paid two 15-year-old boys in New Mexico and one 14-year-old in New York to send him photos of themselves. For a photo of a naked man with erection, he paid $500.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him and was granted a $1 million bail, although after his arrest at his Manhattan flat on Friday, Cruz admitted that he chatted with the three and asked photos from them as well as asking photos from another Bronx Science student in exchange for a gift.

The principal of Bronx Science, Jean Donahue, emailed parents on Friday and informed them that Cruz had been reassigned to another location wherein he has no contacts with students.

One of his victims told investigators that the person who contacted him for nude photos claimed to be 15 and a nerd in search of jocks. Cruz also allegedly told the victim that he will move to New Mexico and promised to perform sexual acts on the victim and be his slave in exchange for the naked photograph.

Cruz, who is a native of Great Neck and graduated from Vassar College, is credited with helping shape the Bronx Science speech and debate team to be one of the best in the U.S. He was the recipient of the coach of the year award in 2013 from the National Forensic League.

TagsPornography, bronx, John Cruz, Kik