Federal investigators say a 42-year-old Flint man turned Reddit into his hunting ground for children, using the platform to talk about child exploitation, trade explicit images and try to arrange sex with someone he believed was a minor. The man, identified by authorities as Kenneth Herman Gianlorenzo, is now facing federal charges that include attempted transfer of obscene material to minors, along with alleged enhanced penalties tied to his status as a registered sex offender. Agents say the online conversations stretched over months and triggered a multi-agency investigation.
According to federal court documents, an undercover FBI agent interacted with a Reddit account using the handle “Pervdaddy84.” Investigators say the user behind that profile talked about a preference for children “between 4 and 10 years old” and wrote, “well i do love younger girls… so yeah. i wouldn’t hurt you. i fall so deep in love.” The user allegedly went further, asking for sexual contact with what he believed was the undercover agent’s 12-year-old daughter, according to ClickOnDetroit.
How investigators traced the account
The FBI says it pulled Reddit records and IP logs linked to the account, then chased an email recovery number through Yahoo, which led to a phone number that also appeared on Cash App under the name Ken Gianlorenzo. Agents say they searched a phone on May 12, then executed a search warrant at Gianlorenzo’s Flint home last Wednesday. During that search, investigators seized a Samsung device whose IMEI they say matched the online records, and they report finding an olive-colored blanket with a distinct design and orange pajama pants that matched items seen in images shared on the account.
Court filings reviewed by ClickOnDetroit state that Gianlorenzo has a prior felony sexual assault conviction in New Hampshire. Records also show he was listed as in compliance on Michigan’s sex offender registry with a report dated May 11. A detention hearing on Tuesday ended with a judge ordering him held in custody pending trial.
Platforms and international tips
According to investigators, the case heated up after Reddit issued an emergency disclosure tied to the account. Another user allegedly mentioned plans to bring children to the account operator, which triggered heightened concern. Some of the conversations flagged by the platform were routed to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and to overseas partners.
NCMEC’s CyberTipline is designed to funnel these kinds of reports from tech platforms to law-enforcement agencies and to prioritize tips that suggest a child might be in immediate danger. As NCMEC explains, the organization works with agencies in the United States and abroad to help locate and protect children.
Charges and court status
Federal officials allege that Gianlorenzo attempted to transfer obscene material to minors and that he faces enhanced penalties as a registered sex offender, according to the criminal complaint. Magistrate court records show he was ordered detained pending trial following Tuesday's hearing. The FBI and local partners say their investigation is still active and are asking anyone with information to contact the agency.
Resources for parents
Authorities advise parents who suspect online exploitation to save screenshots, keep phones or computers as they are and avoid further contact with the suspected predator while reaching out to local police and the CyberTipline for help. The NCMEC CyberTipline is available online and by phone at 1-800-843-5678, according to NCMEC.
