Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to New Charges of Sexually Exploiting Children on Long Island

Earlier today, in federal courthouse in Central Islip, Anthony Pangallo, a previously convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and, during the plea hearing, admitted to soliciting and receiving sexually explicit images and videos from four young female victims.  The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.  When sentenced, Pangallo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment and up to 50 years in prison.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, announced the guilty plea.

“Our Office will continue its relentless pursuit of sexual predators who target minors, and work to secure lengthy prison sentences to protect the public and vulnerable children from these depraved individuals,” stated U.S. Attorney Nocella.  “This defendant’s conduct was especially abhorrent because, despite being a registered sex offender following a prior state conviction, he continued to target multiple young victims.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department, the Westport Police Department and the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office, Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District.

“Anthony Pangallo pretended to be a teenager to gain the trust of prepubescent girls before sexually grooming and forcing elicit explicit content from them. As a registered sex offender, Pangallo has continued to repeatedly exploit and abuse minors to fulfill his own perverted desires,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “The FBI maintains its steadfast commitment to protect our community’s vulnerable populations from sexual predators.”

As set forth in court filings and statements during today’s plea proceeding, Pangallo was initially arrested on May 20, 2021, at his residence in Rego Park, New York, on state charges filed in Westport, Connecticut.  The Connecticut charges, which remain pending, involved a 15-year-old female victim, who Pangallo met online and manipulated into sending him sexually explicit images of herself.  Subsequent investigation, which included a lawful search of Pangallo’s cellphone, revealed numerous online communications with other minor females from whom the defendant solicited sexually explicit images. Specifically, four children from Long Island—a 12-year-old and three 13-year-olds—were identified as victims, leading to the federal charges in this case.  During his communications with these minors, Pangallo pretended to be a teenager, manipulated the victims into believing that they were in a relationship together, and then pressured them into sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.  At the time that he committed these crimes, Pangallo was registered as a sex offender due to a prior conviction in August 2009 for sexual assault of a minor in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States  Attorney Paul G. Scotti is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

ANTHONY PANGALLO
Age:  41
Rego Park, Queens

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-233 (S-1)(JS)