Joseph Garofalo, 21, of Valley Stream, pleaded guilty in Central Islip Thursday, Feb. 5, to sexual exploitation of a child, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
At the time of the crimes, Garofalo was employed as an assistant lacrosse coach at Valley Stream Central High School. Investigators determined he used social media to contact minors and engage them in sexually explicit conversations, prosecutors said.
He then threatened to distribute nude images unless the victims sent additional explicit photos or videos, a form of online abuse commonly referred to as “sextortion,” authorities said.
In some cases, Garofalo pressured victims to send sexually explicit images of their friends, prosecutors said. Investigators identified approximately 30 minor victims during the course of the investigation, including children as young as 13.
Federal authorities also said Garofalo repeatedly uploaded child sexual abuse material to the internet.
FBI Search Led To Confession
The investigation culminated in April 2025, when FBI agents executed a search warrant at Garofalo’s residence. During the search, Garofalo admitted he controlled the social media account used to solicit explicit material from minors and acknowledged possessing such material on his electronic devices.
Agents seized multiple devices and recovered digital evidence from social media platforms corroborating the abuse, prosecutors said.
“This case is a stark reminder that those entrusted with the care and mentorship of children must be held to the highest standards,” said US Attorney Joseph Nocella. “Our Office will relentlessly pursue predators like this defendant who victimize the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Garofalo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and up to 30 years when sentenced by US District Judge Nusrat Choudhury.
The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating online child exploitation.
Anyone with information related to Garofalo’s conduct is urged to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000.
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