Canadian Man Admits Guilt in U.S. for Online Sexual Exploitation of Over 100 Minors
A Canadian man from Toronto has pleaded guilty in United States federal court to charges related to the sexual exploitation of more than 100 children through online manipulation and coercion. Ramanan Pathmanathan, 40, entered his guilty plea on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, admitting to production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.
Years of Deception and Manipulation
According to court documents and statements from the U.S. Department of Justice, Pathmanathan operated for approximately seven years, from at least March 2014 until his arrest in March 2021. During this period, he created a fabricated online persona as an American teenage boy from New Jersey and used this false identity to target vulnerable minors across the United States.
The victims, all female and ranging in age from 11 to 17 years old, were located throughout various states. Pathmanathan communicated with them through popular social media platforms, building deceptive relationships before coercing them into sexually explicit acts during video chats.
Threats and Coercion Tactics
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division described the case as involving "diabolical actions" that robbed victims of their innocence. Pathmanathan employed manipulation, threats, and fear to control his victims, secretly recording their interactions without their knowledge or consent.
When children resisted further exploitation, Pathmanathan threatened to distribute the recorded videos to their families and friends, using this leverage to maintain control over his victims. This pattern of behavior continued until his arrest following an investigation by the FBI Houston Field office with assistance from the Toronto Police Service.
Legal Consequences and Previous Conviction
Pathmanathan was initially arrested in Canada on March 10, 2021, and was temporarily surrendered to United States authorities on December 3 of that year. He has remained incarcerated pending trial since that time. The guilty plea represents a significant development in a case that spans international borders and involves extensive victimization.
Notably, Pathmanathan had already pleaded guilty to similar offences in Canada on October 27, 2022, receiving a 12-year prison sentence in that jurisdiction. For the American charges, he now faces substantially more severe penalties, including a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.
Financial Restitution and Sentencing
As part of the plea agreement, Pathmanathan will pay restitution to his victims, consisting of no less than US$3,000 per individual affected by his crimes. Additional fines and a period of supervised release are also anticipated as part of his sentencing, which is scheduled for May 27.
The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. This program coordinates resources across federal, state, and local levels to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children through internet technologies while working to rescue victims from ongoing abuse.
Justice Department officials emphasized their commitment to holding accountable those who prey on children, regardless of where they operate or what technological barriers they attempt to hide behind. "We will hold accountable anyone who preys on our children, including those who do it from behind a computer screen, to ensure that victims are protected and treated with the dignity they deserve," stated Assistant Attorney General Duva.
