Oroville, CA — The Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) was contacted by a person alleging he had evidence to prove that Michael Zuccolillo, 41, of Paradise, had been sending sexually explicit text messages and photographs of his genitals to a person Zuccolillo believed to be a 16-year-old female visiting the Sacramento area from China. The person said the texts and photos were sent during an ongoing conversation that included discussion of Zuccolillo traveling to Sacramento to have sex with the purported 16-year-old and her adult sister.
The person told sheriff’s detectives he obtained the evidence by targeting Zuccolillo in what is best described as a self-initiated “to catch a predator” style operation. The person informed detectives he took on the persona of a 16-year-old female and targeted Zuccolillo due to animosity he had for Zuccolillo resulting from a bad business deal.
Detectives were leery of the information provided, and questioned the veracity of the evidence provided by the subject, given the person’s motivation for targeting Zuccolillo. However, given the seriousness of the allegations detectives did not believe they could dismiss or ignore the allegations without conducting an independent investigation. Detectives took the information from the person and told him to cease all contact with Zuccolillo. Detectives then initiated an independent investigation into the allegations.
During the course of that investigation, detectives consulted the Butte County District Attorney’s Office and Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Cellular telephone records for both Zuccolillo and the subject making the allegations were obtained through search warrants. The records provided preliminary confirmation of the allegations. An undercover law enforcement officer, using the previously established persona of the 16-year-old female from China began exchanging text messages with Zuccolillo. During those exchanges, Zuccolillo sent sexually explicit text messages and additional photos of his genitals to the undercover officer.
Additional search warrants were obtained for Zuccolillo’s home, vehicles and electronic devices. The case was submitted to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office for review.
After reviewing the evidence obtained during the independent investigation, the District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Zuccolillo charging Zuccolillo with Arranging a Meeting with a Minor for the Purpose of Engaging in Lewd or Lascivious Behavior; Sending Harmful Material to a Minor; and for Communicating with a Minor for the Purpose of Engaging in Sexual Conduct.
Zuccolillo turned himself in at the Butte County Jail on April 14, 2020. His bail was set at $135,000, which he posted. His arraignment in Butte County Superior Court was set for July 10, 2020.
