Staten Island Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child

Defendant Used Kik Messaging App to Entice Minors to Produce Child Pornography

Earlier today, after a jury had been selected for trial, Blaise Caroleo pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to sexual exploitation of a child.  The proceeding took place before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano.  When sentenced, Caroleo faces a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment. 

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the guilty plea.

Between approximately January 24, 2016 and October 12, 2016, Caroleo enticed a 14-year-old girl to produce sexually explicit images of herself, and to send these images to him using an Internet application called Kik.  The account name for the application on Caroleo’s cell phone was “Nimfeater.”  A review of Nimfeater’s Kik account revealed a series of messages in which Caroleo requested sexually explicit photos of Kik users who have been identified as minors.

“The defendant is a dangerous predator who, armed with a phone app, targeted young girls for sexual exploitation,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “Protecting children from harm will always be a priority of this Office.”  Mr. Donoghue expressed his grateful appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and the FBI’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force for their work on the case.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin E. Argo and Alicia N. Washington.

The Defendant:

BLAISE CAROLEO (also known as “Nimfeater”)

Age:  55

Staten Island, NY

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-177 (S-1) (ENV)