Ramanan Pathmanathan, a 40-year-old man from Toronto, was sentenced to 33 years in a U.S. federal prison for orchestrating a prolific sextortion scheme that targeted over 145 children across the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia highlighted the seriousness of his crimes, stating that he used various social media platforms, primarily Instagram and Facebook Messenger, to communicate with minors as young as six years old.

In January, Pathmanathan pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. His U.S. sentence will take effect following a 12-year sentence he is currently serving in Canada for similar offenses, which he pleaded guilty to in 2022. Upon completion of his term, he will also face 10 years of supervised release and is required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, Pathmanathan meticulously targeted children online, demanding they engage in sexually explicit acts during video calls. He threatened to share compromising images with their friends and family if they attempted to block him or cease communication. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro remarked that Pathmanathan systematically hunted children and subjected them to severe trauma, emphasizing that the U.S. would not allow international boundaries to shield predators from justice.

This case indicates the seriousness of child exploitation crimes and the collaborative efforts between U.S. and Canadian authorities to ensure accountability. Laws and resources are being expanded to combat such heinous acts and provide support for affected victims.