A Canadian man has been sentenced to 33 years in a United States federal prison after admitting to a wide ranging online sextortion scheme that targeted more than 145 children across the country, federal authorities said.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Ramanan Pathmanathan, 40, of Toronto, received the 396 month sentence in U.S. District Court, with the announcement made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Pathmanathan entered a guilty plea on Jan. 30, 2026, before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to charges tied to the production of child sexual abuse material and coercion of a minor.
“This defendant spent years methodically hunting children online. He targeted more than 145 victims, some as young as six,” Pirro said, adding that international borders would not shield offenders who exploit minors.
Court records show the scheme stretched from at least 2014 until his arrest in 2021. Investigators said Pathmanathan used multiple social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook Messenger, posing as a teenage boy in the United States to gain the trust of victims.
Authorities said he manipulated children into explicit acts during video chats and secretly recorded the encounters. When victims resisted or attempted to cut off contact, he used threats to distribute the recordings to family members or friends.
The sentencing order requires Pathmanathan to serve 10 years of supervised release after completing his prison term and to register as a sex offender. The U.S. sentence will run consecutively to a 12 year prison term already imposed in Canada following his conviction there in 2022 on related charges.
Officials said Canadian authorities, including the Toronto Police Service and the Ministry of the Attorney General, played a key role in the investigation and prosecution. The defendant was transferred to the United States through coordination led by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
The case was investigated by the FBI Houston Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Prosecutors included Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Shinskie and Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon.
Additional statements from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, including remarks from Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, emphasized that the case reflects a broader effort to track and prosecute online predators operating across borders.
The case forms part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, a nationwide program launched in 2006 to combat online child exploitation and strengthen cooperation among federal, state and local agencies.
The scale of the case highlights how digital platforms continue to be exploited by offenders who rely on anonymity and deception to reach minors. Investigators increasingly face challenges tracking perpetrators who operate across jurisdictions, often using false identities and encrypted communication channels.
This prosecution reflects a growing reliance on international cooperation to dismantle such networks. The coordinated effort between U.S. and Canadian authorities demonstrates how cross border legal frameworks are being used more aggressively to ensure suspects face trial in jurisdictions where the impact of their crimes is most severe.
The length of the sentence also signals a continued shift toward harsher penalties in cases involving repeated exploitation and large numbers of victims. Legal analysts say such outcomes are meant to deter similar crimes, though they acknowledge that prevention remains difficult given the speed and reach of social media platforms.
The case may intensify pressure on technology companies to strengthen monitoring systems and reporting mechanisms, as governments and advocacy groups push for stronger safeguards to protect children online.
CP24/DOJ
