ACCUSED INTERNET PREDATOR CAUGHT IN BRONX DA STING BY DETECTIVE POSING AS A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the arrest of a 39 year old Brooklyn man on charges of attempting to use the Internet to disseminate materials of a sexually explicit nature to an “underage girl.”

Umberto Pittari, of 1536 West 10th Street, Brooklyn, was arrested by NYPD Detectives assigned to the DA’s Squad following a two month investigation which began last January when Pittari engaged an undercover detective in an online conversation in an Internet chat room.

Pittari has been charged with Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the 1st and 2nd degrees, and Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Pittari is facing a maximum sentence of up to 4 years imprisonment if convicted of the most serious charge.

It is alleged that between January 2, 2007 and March 7, 2007, the defendant engaged in numerous Internet chats via instant messaging with a detective whom Pittari believed to be a 14 year old girl. The chats were of a sexually explicit nature and the total amount time spent on some 96 separate online conversations was in excess of 71 hours. According to court papers the defendant repeatedly requested that the “minor child” send him nude photographs of “herself” and meet with him in order to engage in sexual relations. It is also alleged that Pittari, during the course of the investigation, sent E-mail to the undercover detective that contained nude images of men and women having sexual relations.

District Attorney Johnson thanked Captain Charles Barbutti, Sergeant Kenny Leonas, and Detective Michael Smith of the Bronx DA’s Squad for their efforts in bringing these charges.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Penney Vachiraprapun of the Arson/Auto/Economic Crime Bureau.