Former Valley Stream Assistant Lacrosse Coach Pleads Guilty After 'Sextortion' Of Minors, Prosecutors Say

VALLEY STREAM, NY. — A former assistant high school lacrosse coach faces between 15 and 30 years of jail time after he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual exploitation of a child Thursday, prosecutors said.

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York announced Thursday that 21-year-old Joseph Garofalo, a former assistant lacrosse coach at Valley Stream Central High School, had pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, an offense prosecutors said took place while Garofalo was an assistant high school lacrosse coach on Long Island.

“Joseph Garofalo, an assistant high school coach, exploited more than 30 minors by blackmailing them into sending multiple sexually explicit photos and videos through social media threads,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle said. “Garofalo, entrusted with the care and development of young teenagers, violated this trust when he victimized these children to fulfill his perverted wants. The FBI will continue to hold accountable those who manipulate their positions of authority to target vulnerable victims.”

Garofalo’s attorney, Anthony LaPinta, told Patch Thursday was “a difficult day.”

"There are extensive and compelling facts that will be significant mitigation when Joseph is sentenced in the near future,” LaPinta said.

In court documents, prosecutors said Garofalo used a Snapchat account to have sexually explicit conversations with children. Prosecutors said Garofalo threatened to share naked photos and videos of the minors unless they sent more naked or explicit photos and media of their friends, which prosecutors said is known as “sextortion.”

On one occasion, prosecutors said Garofalo had told a 13-year-old that he wouldn’t delete naked photos of them until they sent him explicit photos of their friends. Prosecutors also said Garofalo uploaded child sexual abuse material, known as CSAM, to the internet.

“This case is a stark reminder that those entrusted with the care and mentorship of children must be held to the highest standards. Our Office will relentlessly pursue predators like this defendant who victimize the most vulnerable members of our society,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and hold sexual predators accountable.”

When sentenced, prosecutors said Garofalo faces between 15 and 30 years of jail time.

Valley Stream Central High School District representatives declined to comment on the plea Thursday, referring to a letter the district circulated when Garofalo was charged last spring. In that letter, Superintendent Dr. Wayne Loper said the allegations against Garofalo did not include any students in the district.

“We have been in contact with investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who have advised that none of the allegations against this individual involve Valley Stream Central High School District students,” Garofalo said in the letter. “As with all individuals working in our schools, this former coach underwent mandated state and federal background checks prior to his employment by the District and cleared all vetting procedures.”

On Friday, Garofalo’s attorney LaPinta said his client was “entirely apologetic and regretful” for his behavior.