James Pagliaro, a 27-year-old from Middletown, New York, was sentenced on May 8 in Bridgeport to 600 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting minor girls he contacted through social media apps, according to an April 29 announcement by U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut.
Pagliaro’s sentencing follows a period between April 2024 and March 2025 during which he sent explicit messages and photographs to thousands of minor girls via platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok. He coerced at least four victims—aged between 15 and 16—from Connecticut, the United Kingdom, New Jersey, and Florida into producing hundreds of explicit images and videos. Pagliaro also traveled multiple times to Connecticut to engage in sexual acts with one victim whom he threatened with violence.
A forensic evaluation revealed that Pagliaro exchanged tens of thousands of messages with his victims, often referencing their ages. He used grooming tactics such as professing love before resorting to threats involving weapons. The court heard that he forced his victims into creating humiliating or dangerous videos as punishment for perceived failures and encouraged at least one victim to commit suicide. One victim was made to sign a so-called slavery contract, while another was pressured into recruiting other minors.
Authorities found thousands of additional images depicting child sexual exploitation on Pagliaro’s phone—including material involving infants and toddlers. "This defendant exploited social media apps to cast a wide net to ensnare young girls into committing sexually degrading acts for his own gratification," said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. "When successful, he used grooming techniques and psychological manipulation to coerce, abuse, and terrorize his victims... I thank HSI and our local law enforcement partners who investigated this matter..."
Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming said: "Pagliaro is a depraved child predator who has earned every day of his 50-year sentence... The victims in this case exhibited extraordinary bravery coming forward despite Pagliaro’s threats against them... HSI remains relentless in its pursuit of justice for survivors of child sexual abuse." Pagliaro pleaded guilty earlier this year after being arrested on March 19, 2025.
The case involved collaboration among Homeland Security Investigations offices in New England and Hudson Valley; the Orange County Sheriff’s Office; police departments from Danbury, Ridgefield, Watertown; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood under the Department of Justice aimed at protecting children from exploitation (according to the official website). The U.S. Attorney's Office serves all Connecticut residents by prosecuting federal crimes—including those related to child exploitation—and handling civil cases within the state (according to the official website). The office operates locations in New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport; employs about 68 assistant attorneys plus support staff; functions under the Department of Justice since its establishment in 1789 (according to the official website).
For more information about Project Safe Childhood or reporting suspected child exploitation cases visit www.justice.gov/psc or www.cybertipline.com.
