An Italian citizen, Marco Pagano, 41, has been sentenced to 320 months in federal prison for child exploitation and international money laundering. The sentencing took place in Miami before U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman after Pagano pleaded guilty on February 25.
According to court records and statements made during the proceedings, Pagano contacted several minor victims through social media platforms and used online payment systems to persuade them to produce and send sexually explicit images and videos. Four of these victims were between the ages of 14 and 16 and lived in the United Kingdom. Pagano reportedly sent more than one thousand payments in small amounts globally using his online accounts, with over 180 transactions totaling thousands of dollars directed specifically to the four UK minors.
Pagano will also be subject to 15 years of supervised release following his prison term. The court has not yet determined restitution.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida stated: “U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami made the announcement.”
The case was investigated by FBI Miami and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 that coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to address child sexual exploitation online (www.projectsafechildhood.gov). The project aims both to apprehend offenders who exploit children via the internet and identify or rescue victims.
Anyone with relevant information regarding child sexual exploitation or abuse is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Further details about this case can be found on the Southern District of Florida’s website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20360.
