Source: Office of United States Attorneys
David Pastorello was Pending Sentencing on State Charges for Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – David Pastorello, age 44, of Ithaca, New York, was arrested Tuesday evening and had his initial appearance on Wednesday on charges of enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
The complaint alleges that Pastorello sent text messages to a girl under the age of 12, repeatedly requesting that the child have sex with him. Pastorello also sent the victim indecent images of himself, in addition to two images constituting child pornography under federal law. Later, Pastorello entered the victim’s apartment without permission before fleeing. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Prior to this offense, in May 2025, Pastorello was arraigned in Tompkins County Court for the New York State offense of possessing a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years old. In July 2025, just a few days prior to the incident that gave rise to the federal charges, Pastorello pled guilty in Cortland County Court to the New York State offense of disseminating indecent material to a minor. The Cortland County case was reset for sentencing. Pastorello was out on bond in both pending state cases.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Thanks to the quick work of federal, state, and local law enforcement, children have been protected and a dangerous predator has been apprehended. Despite having committed other crimes relating to child sexual abuse, Pastorello was allowed by state authorities to be out of custody. His new crimes demonstrate how dangerously unwise that decision was. Pastorello will be held fully accountable for the federal offenses he has committed.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Pastorello, a repeat offender with an alarming criminal history, is a dangerous predator who is now facing serious federal charges. These charges would not have been possible without the incredible assistance and coordination provided by our partners from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca Police Department, and New York State Police. Our communities should know the FBI is committed to leveraging these strong partnerships to bring the full weight of the federal government down on these disturbing predators looking to harm our children.”
Following the initial appearance, Pastorello was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
If convicted of enticement of a minor, Pastorello faces a maximum term of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and for distribution of child pornography, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Pastorello would also be required to register as a sex offender if convicted.
The FBI and New York State Police are conducting this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.