A former high school lacrosse coach in New York is facing serious allegations of using social media platform Snapchat to sexually exploit and blackmail at least 30 boys, with victims as young as 13 years old. Joseph Garofalo, 20, who previously worked as an assistant lacrosse coach at Valley Stream Central High School on Long Island, has been accused of soliciting child sex abuse images from minors and then coercing them into providing more explicit images of themselves and their friends, court documents obtained by PEOPLE reveal. Garofalo was arrested in April and pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually exploiting children, following a tip-off to the FBI by the mother of one of his alleged teenage victims in October 2024.
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Authorities have described Garofalo’s actions as “sextortion,” where he allegedly threatened his victims with harm unless they provided him with sexual images, favours, or money. It was reported that a 13-year-old victim sent naked photos and videos of himself to Garofalo via Snapchat in June 2024, with the coach subsequently demanding more explicit content under the threat of sharing the original images online. Court documents show that Garofalo admitted to FBI agents of having an “addiction” to this behaviour, which he claims to have engaged in since the age of 15, with victims ranging from 12 to 16 years old.
A search of Garofalo’s Snapchat account in November 2024, which had been previously flagged for containing suspicious files, revealed child sex abuse images involving at least nine different minors. This number increased significantly following further searches after the discovery of four phones in his possession, two of which were hidden in his room. Investigators have identified at least 30 victims, primarily residing on Long Island, according to court records. Despite these disturbing revelations, Valley Stream Central High School District Superintendent Wayne Loper assured parents that none of the alleged victims were students of the school, as stated in a message obtained by The Long Island Herald.
Garofalo is no longer employed by the district, as confirmed by Loper, though the coach’s attorney, Anthony M. La Pinta, has yet to provide a statement in response to the allegations. Garofalo remains in custody after a judge denied him bail, citing concerns over his extensive history of exploiting minors and the substantial evidence uncovered from his electronic devices. His family had offered assets worth around $1.55 million as collateral for bail, with Garofalo agreeing to strict conditions, including no internet or cellphone access and attending counselling sessions weekly. However, the judge deemed him too much of a risk to the community to be released on bail at this time.
It is essential to address such cases of child exploitation and abuse promptly to prevent further harm to vulnerable individuals. The seriousness of the allegations against Garofalo underscores the need for vigilance and swift action to protect minors from such predatory behaviour. The legal proceedings against him will undoubtedly shed light on the extent of the harm caused and the importance of safeguarding young people from online threats. Parents and guardians are encouraged to stay informed and vigilant to ensure the safety and well-being of children in today’s digital age.