A New York Man has admitted to using TikTok and Snapchat to exploit young girls across the world, including one in Connecticut.
James Pagliaro, 27, of Middletown, New York, pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and traveling to engage in sexual activity with a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. The charges carry anywhere from five years to life in prison.
Court records show that, in October 2024, Pagliaro reportedly started messaging a 15-year-girl from Connecticut on TikTok. In December 2024, the girl reportedly told Pagliaro that she was 15 years old and they started text messaging. A month later, in January 2025, Pagliaro reportedly traveled to Connecticut at least three times to engage in sexual conduct with the underage teen, according to court records.
A forensic examination of the girl’s iPhone in February 2025 reportedly revealed hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos of the girl, more than 11,000 text messages and 300 iOS and FaceTime calls between her and Pagliaro. “In the messages, Pagliaro instructed the minor victim to perform specific sex acts, including sadistic and masochistic conduct,” court records show. “Pagliaro also asked the minor victim to recruit another minor to engage in sexual conduct with him.”
The investigation also revealed that Pagliaro was reportedly exchanging sexually explicit messages, images and videos with a 15-year-old girl in the United Kingdom, a 15-year-old girl in New Jersey and a 16-year-old girl in Florida. He also reportedly initiated contact with “thousands of other minors on TikTok and SnapChat,” according to court records.
“In March 2025 alone, Pagliaro sent messages, many of which were sexually explicit, to approximately 600 SnapChat users who appeared to be minors, and sent sexually explicit images of himself to at least 68 of those SnapChat users.”
Pagliaro has been detained since his arrest on March 19, 2025. His sentencing was scheduled for May 8.
The investigation was conducted by HSI New England, HSI New York, the Orange County (New York) Sheriff’s Office, and the Danbury, Ridgefield, and Watertown Police Departments.
To report cases of child exploitation, go to www.cybertipline.com.
