Lacrosse coach used alleged Snapchat to ‘Sextort’ at least 30 boys

A former Lacrosse coach for high school is accused of using Snapchat to sexually exploit and blackmail at least 30 minor boys.

Joseph Garofalo – who worked as assistant Lacrosse coach at Valley Stream Central High School on Long Island, new – allegedly urged pictures of child sex abuse from male minors and later extorted their victims to deliver more naked pictures of themselves and their friends, according to the court’s documents as seen by people.

Garofalo, 20, was arrested and did not appeal to allegedly exploited children in April, months after the mother to one of Garofalo’s alleged teenage victims tipped by the FBI in October 2024.

According to court documents, the named 13-year-old victim was said to be that Garofalo naked photos and videos of himself, where his face was visible, via Snapchat in June 2024. He later lasted months later to ensure that the pictures had been removed.

Garofalo – who was aware of the age of the teens – told the victim that he still had the pictures in his possession and threatened to share them online unless the victim “sent more naked photos or sent explicit photos by his friends”, according to a complaint submitted on April 18.

“Gimme a reason,” Garofalo replied to the victim’s request to delete according to the complaint. “Send things by your boys naked n il ldelete (sic),” reads another alleged message.

Court documents describe Garofalo’s behavior as “sext portion”, as the complaint on April 18 defines as “when an individual (perpetrator) threatens to cause damage to another individual (victim) either by distributing private and sensitive material, injury the victim or friends or relatives, etc., unless the victim, sexually, or injures with pictures of a sexual nature of a sexual nature, or damages. Not the victim gives the perpetrator with pictures of a sexual nature, sexual, sexual beneficiaries.

After his arrest, Garofalo admitted to FBI agents that he has an “addiction” of this behavior, which he has been involved in since he was 15, according to court documents. His victims have always varied from 12 to 16 years old.

The authorities later applied for Garofalo’s Snapchat account – which had been flagged earlier that year for containing files that seemed to portray children’s gender abuse – in November 2024 and found pictures of child sex abuse that portrayed at least nine separate minors. This figure more than tripled after another keyword was implemented.

After going through only some of the four phones found in Garofalo’s possession – of which two were hidden in his room – the authorities have identified at least 30 victims, of which a majority live on Long Island per court document.

According to Valley Stream Central High School District Superintendent Wayne Loper, no district students were among Garofalo’s alleged victims.

“We have been in contact with investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has announced that none of the charges against this person involves Valley Stream Central High School District students,” Loper said in a statement to parents obtained Long Island Herald.

Loper also confirmed that Garofalo is no longer employed in the district, according to the newspaper.

Garofalo’s lawyer, Anthony M. La Pinta, did not immediately respond to people’s request for comment on Sunday, May 11.

In a statement to New York PostLa Pinta said: “These accusations come as a shock of the Garafolo family. Joseph is known for being a respectful, caring and hard -working young man.”

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From May 11, Garofalo remains in custody after a judge denied him the bail. He appeared in the court for a bond hearing on May 6, when his family offered about $ 1.55 million in property as collateral for his bail. Garofalo also promised to stay in his parents’ home – without the internet, mobile phone access or commitment with the children he used to coach – and to participate in counseling every week.

A judge still denied him the bail, but quoted concerns about society due to Garofalo’s year -long “dependence” to sexually exploitation minors, as well as the large amount of evidence discovered through the still complete search of his units.

If you suspect children, call Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline on 1-800-4-Per or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are free of charge and confidential. The threat line is available around the clock in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “strength” to the crisis text line of 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis adviser.