Long Island Predator Pangallo Admits to Exploiting Children

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – Anthony Pangallo, 41, of Rego Park, Queens, admitted in federal court today to a sickening pattern of sexually exploiting children. The previously convicted sex offender pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child, confessing to soliciting and receiving sexually explicit images and videos from four young female victims from Long Island.

The guilty plea, entered before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert, comes with a grim promise: a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years behind bars, and a potential maximum of 50 years. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella, Jr., vowed continued “relentless pursuit of sexual predators,” emphasizing the particularly “abhorrent” nature of Pangallo’s crimes given his prior conviction.

“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,” Nocella stated. The investigation began with a May 20, 2021, arrest at Pangallo’s residence, stemming from charges filed in Westport, Connecticut, involving a 15-year-old victim he met online.

But the depravity didn’t stop there. A search of Pangallo’s cellphone unveiled a network of online communications with other minor females. Investigators identified four additional victims – a 12-year-old and three 13-year-olds – all from Long Island. Pangallo, posing as a teenager, systematically groomed and manipulated these girls, convincing them they were in relationships before pressuring them to send explicit content.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia painted a stark picture: “Anthony Pangallo pretended to be a teenager to gain the trust of prepubescent girls before sexually grooming and forcing elicit explicit content from them.” Raia underscored the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable populations. Crucially, Pangallo was already a registered sex offender, having been convicted in August 2009 for sexual assault of a minor in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation. Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Scotti is leading the prosecution of E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-233 (S-1)(JS). Nocella also acknowledged the assistance of the New York City Police Department, the Westport Police Department and the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office, Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District. The investigation continues.

RELATED: Convicted Offender Pangallo Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation on LI