N.J. 'Predator' Had Autistic Teen, Others Send Him Child Sex Photos: AG

A New Jersey man has been indicted and charged with soliciting underage girls online, including an autistic girl, to send him sexually explicit photos of themselves.

Thomas A. Pirretti, 33, was indicted Monday on charges including first-degree manufacturing of child pornography, according to Acting Attorney General Robert Lougy.

The Flemington man allegedly met the autistic victim, a 16-year-old California resident, on the Nintendo Network in October 2014. After obtaining her phone number, Pirretti allegedly called the girl repeatedly and solicited her to send him sexually explicit photos of herself, according to a release from Lougy's office.

He also allegedly asked her to send photos of herself engaging in sexual activity with her younger female cousin. He told the victim that he would be her boyfriend if she complied with his demands, according to the release.

In response to his alleged demands, the victim sent Pirretti at least 10 nude images of herself. When the victim’s mother learned about the conduct, she alerted local police, who traced the calls to New Jersey and notified the Division of Criminal Justice, according to the release.

In November 2014, Pirretti allegedly solicited an 11-year-old Colorado girl to send him naked photos of herself. As in the previous instance, he allegedly met the victim on the Nintendo Network and obtained her phone number, according to the release.

He then called her repeatedly and asked her to send him nude photos of herself. That victim did not send any photos. When the victim’s father learned about the phone calls, he alerted local police, who entered the case into the cybertip database of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The phone number of the caller was again traced to Pirretti, according to the release.

At the time of the alleged conduct, Pirretti already was facing charges of possession and distribution of child pornography stemming from his July 22, 2014 arrest in “Operation Predator Alert,” a joint operation by the Division of Criminal Justice and ICE Homeland Security Investigations.

A total of 28 individuals were arrested in Operation Predator Alert, in two separate sweeps, for allegedly using a file-sharing network to download and distribute child pornography, including child rape videos, on the Internet.

That investigation revealed that between October 2013 and June 2014 Pirretti allegedly possessed approximately 1,005 items of child pornography and allegedly distributed approximately 750 items of child pornography via email, according to the release.

He allegedly engaged in an online chat with another defendant in "Operation Predator Alert" in which they discussed their desire for prepubescent girls. Pirretti allegedly asked if he could pay for sexual activity with the other defendant’s 10-year-old daughter, according to the release.

“Even after his 2014 arrest for distributing child pornography, Pirretti allegedly stalked young girls online, manipulating a very vulnerable victim into sending him sexually explicit photos of herself,” said Lougy. “We charge that Pirretti is a dangerous predator who should not be free to roam the Internet or our communities.”

Pirretti was charged in a 10-count indictment filed yesterday by the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau.

He is also charged with distribution of 25 or more files of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, possession of 100 or more files of child pornography, possession of child pornography, debauching the morals of a child, attempted debauching the morals of a child and cyber-harassment.

The indictment was handed up Monday to Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Hunterdon County, where Pirretti will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment. Pirretti currently is free on $125,000 bail. As a condition of bail, Pirretti is prohibited from accessing the Internet.