Ramanan Pathmanathan Sentenced to 33 Years for Sextortion Scheme Targeting More Than 145 Children
Summary
Ramanan Pathmanathan was sentenced to 33 years after pleading guilty to coercing and exploiting more than 145 children over eight years using Instagram and Facebook Messenger. He must also register as a sex offender and serve 10 years of supervised release.
Key points
- Pathmanathan pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and production of child pornography.
- Authorities said he targeted at least 145 children in the United States between March 2014 and his arrest in March 2021; some victims were as young as six.
- He used Instagram and Facebook Messenger accounts while posing as a teenage boy from New Jersey.
- He coerced victims into explicit video chats, recorded them, and threatened to share the recordings with their friends or family.
- In addition to the 33-year sentence, he must register as a sex offender and serve 10 years of supervised release; he is also serving a separate 12-year sentence in Canada.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Sentencing following a guilty plea in a child sextortion case
- Impact
- Ramanan Pathmanathan targeted more than 145 children in the United States over eight years, coercing them into explicit video chats, recording them, and threatening to share the recordings. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison, must register as a sex offender, and must serve 10 years of supervised release.
Threat Actors
Products
Facebook MessengerHe used Instagram and Facebook Messenger to coerce minors into explicit video chats, record them, and threaten to share the recordings unless they complied.InstagramHe used Instagram and Facebook Messenger to coerce minors into explicit video chats, record them, and threaten to share the recordings unless they complied.
Countries
CanadaHe is already serving a 12-year prison term in Canada following a 2022 guilty plea to similar offenses there.United StatesA Canadian man, Ramanan Pathmanathan, was sentenced to 33 years in prison for an eight-year sextortion scheme that targeted more than 145 children in the United States, including victims as young as 6.