Anthony Pangallo, a previously convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty in federal court in Central Islip to charges of sexually exploiting children. During the plea hearing before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert, Pangallo admitted to soliciting and receiving explicit images and videos from four young female victims. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, with the possibility of up to 50 years.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the plea alongside Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Field Office.
“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 support from the New York City Police Department, Westport Police Department, and Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
“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.”
According to court documents and statements made during the plea proceeding, 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 charges involve a 15-year-old victim whom Pangallo met online and convinced to send him explicit images. Investigators later found additional communications with other minor females through a lawful search of Pangallo’s cellphone. Four children from Long Island—a 12-year-old and three 13-year-olds—were identified as victims for the federal case. In these interactions, Pangallo posed as a teenager online and pressured his victims into sending explicit content by pretending they were in relationships.
At the time these crimes occurred, Pangallo was already required to register as a sex offender due to an earlier conviction for sexual assault of a minor in Atlantic City in August 2009.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood (https://www.justice.gov/psc), an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local authorities.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Scotti is leading this case for the Criminal Section of the Long Island Division.
Pangallo is 41 years old and resides in Rego Park, Queens.
