A Miami resident and Italian national, Marco Pagano, has entered a guilty plea for producing child sexual abuse material and engaging in international promotional money laundering connected to his exploitation of minors. Pagano's dealings involved using social media and financial incentives to manipulate minors into creating and sending sexually explicit content, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The case, which was aired in the Southern District of Florida's courtroom, revealed that from March 2023 through April 2024, Pagano sent over a thousand dollars to four girls from the United Kingdom, ranging in ages from 14 to 16. This money, funnelled through his online payment accounts, was a predatory exchange for explicit photographs and videos, which included the girls engaging in sexual acts – as per a Department of Justice report.
Pagano admitted to the charge during a hearing and now faces a potential life sentence. The final sentencing is scheduled for June 9 before United States District Court Judge Robert N. Scola. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller is prosecuting the matter for the FBI Miami's investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a sweeping initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice, aiming to combat the rampant issue of child sexual exploitation, and abuse online. Through collaboration between U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and local resources, the project seeks to locate, apprehend, the perpetrators and extend support to victims. In light of such disclosures, the public is encouraged to report any related illicit activity to the FBI via their toll-free line, 1-800-CALL-FBI or refer to their website for additional details.
Information about the proceedings can be found at the Southern District of Florida's court website, or by accessing case number 24-cr-20360 at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. The FBI continues to urge those with pertinent information about child sexual exploitation or abuse to step forward, contributing to their ongoing efforts to shield children from these horrific crimes.
