Earlier today in Central Islip federal court, Anthony Pangallo, a previously convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual exploitation of a child. During the plea hearing before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert, Pangallo admitted to soliciting and receiving sexually explicit images and videos from four young female victims. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment and could receive up to 50 years when sentenced.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI’s 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.”
Nocella also acknowledged assistance from the New York City Police Department, Westport Police Department, and Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office for the 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.”
Court documents indicate that Pangallo was first arrested on May 20, 2021 at his home in Rego Park, New York on state charges filed in Westport, Connecticut. The pending Connecticut case involves a 15-year-old victim whom Pangallo met online and convinced to send him sexually explicit images. Investigators later found evidence on Pangallo’s cellphone showing communications with other minor females from whom he solicited similar material. Four Long Island children—a 12-year-old and three 13-year-olds—were identified as victims in this federal case. Pangallo posed as a teenager during online conversations with these minors, made them believe they were in relationships with him, then pressured them into sending explicit images and videos.
At the time these crimes occurred, Pangallo was already required to register as a sex offender due to an August 2009 conviction for sexual assault of a minor in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating efforts among federal, state and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Scotti is leading the prosecution for the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.
Anthony Pangallo is 41 years old and resides in Rego Park, Queens.
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-233 (S-1)(JS)
