A 40-year-old Canadian national has admitted to a years-long campaign of sexual exploitation targeting over 100 children through social media. Ramanan Pathmanathan of Toronto pleaded guilty on Friday in a US federal court to charges of producing child pornography and the coercion and enticement of a minor.Pathmanathan engaged in a calculated scheme that spanned seven years, ending only with his arrest. According to court documents and the DOJ, he created a fake online persona, posing as an American teenage boy to gain the trust of young girls. His victims were aged between 11 and 17 and were located across the United States.Once he established a connection, Pathmanathan manipulated the children into performing sexually explicit acts during video calls. Without their consent or knowledge, he screen-recorded these interactions to collect videos of the abuse. When the victims refused to continue or tried to end the contact, Pathmanathan resorted to sextortion. He threatened to distribute the recorded videos to their families and friends if they did not comply with his demands.Assistant attorney general A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department said in a statement following the plea: “Today’s guilty plea marks a critical step toward justice for over 100 targeted victims in the United States who this predator harmed with his diabolical actions.” Duva added: “For years, while hiding in another country behind a fabricated online persona, he used manipulation, threats, and fear to coerce unsuspecting juveniles into producing and engaging in sexually explicit acts, robbing them of their innocence. We will hold accountable anyone who preys on our children, including those who do it from behind a computer screen to ensure that victims are protected and treated with the dignity they deserve.”Pathmanathan now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. He must also pay restitution of at least $3,000 per victim. Sentencing is scheduled for May 27.This is not the first time Pathmanathan has been in court for such actions. In October 2022, he pleaded guilty to similar offences in Canada and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was temporarily surrendered to American authorities in December 2025 to face trial in a US court in Columbia.
