ICE seeks public’s help to identify additional victims in child exploitation case

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Photo Source: FBI

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are seeking the public’s help to identify possible additional victims in an ongoing child sexual exploitation investigation involving a man who volunteered with Little League Baseball for the St. Pete Breeze.

Michael Joseph Armano, 43, of St. Petersburg, was arrested April 27, 2016, by HSI special agents for child enticement, production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Armano is originally from North Andover, Massachusetts, and later moved to St. Petersburg, where he worked at Landstar and was a volunteer Little League Baseball coach for the St. Pete Breeze.

He also taught pre-school in Hartford, Connecticut, and coached Little League Baseball or instructed players in Hartford, Connecticut; Cheshire, Connecticut; Lawrence, Massachusetts; and North Andover, Massachusetts.

Evidence shows that Armano posed as young male and female juveniles, approximately 11-14 years old, utilizing the Internet in Saint Petersburg, and enticed other young male and female juveniles, in the same age range, from around the country to engage in sexually explicit conduct, utilizing webcams or other mediums, which was recorded unbeknownst to the victim children. The social media applications he used from approximately 2010-2015 were Facebook, OoVoo, AOL instant messaging, Twitter, Kik Messenger, Instagram, Google, Myspace, etc.

“We are certain there are more children that were victimized by this predator, and we ask for the public and parents to help us identify them and make sure they receive the support they need,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge for HSI Tampa. “This case serves as a grave warning to our communities to be vigilant about our children’s online activities. These young people thought they were communicating with their peers, when in fact, it was an adult predator on the other side of the computer.”
Any person who was, or knows of someone who may have been, a possible victim of Armano’s is urged to contact HSI at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form.

Armano’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 28.

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