PROVIDENCE – Paul J. Stabile, 39, of Cranston, who used an online persona of “Cindi Mennillo,” a 16-year-old girl from Newport, to persuade numerous young boys between the ages of 13-15 to engage in explicit sexual activity in live stream videos over Facebook Messenger and Skype, was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison.

The investigation that led to identifying Stabile as a person directing young teenage boys to participate in sexually explicit live-stream videos began in December 2017, when the mother of a 14 year-old boy in Nevada reported to the FBI that her son was the victim of an online enticement. The investigation uncovered chats between Stabile, pretending to be 16 year-old “Cindi Mennillo,” and the minor victim.  During some of the conversations, Stabile directed the young teenager to send back live video streams of himself participating in sexually explicit acts.  To deceive the minor victim, Stabile falsely claimed technical difficulties were preventing “Cindi” from reciprocating with live video. Instead Stabile sent the young teenager images, both pornographic and non-pornographic, of an athletic young female purported to be “Cindi.”

On November 20, 2018, a federal court-authorized search of Stabile’s residence resulted in the seizure of several computers and other digital media devices and the arrest of Stabile. Forensic audits of the devices resulted in the discovery of hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, including videos of dozens of young teenage boys performing a sex act in a similar manner to the Nevada-based minor victim.  Also found were the images sent by “Cindi” to the minor victim in Nevada.

Stabile pleaded guilty on June 12, 2019, to inducement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity and possession of child pornography. At sentencing today, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith sentenced Stabile to 151 months in federal prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release.

Stabile’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.     

The matter was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Warwick and Cranston Police, and the Washoe County, Nevada Sherriff’s Department.

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PROVIDENCE – Paul J. Stabile, 39, of Cranston, faces 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced in September, having pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and one count of possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.

According to information presented in Court, between October 2017 and December 2017, Stabile used an online persona “Cindi Mennillo” to pretend to be a 16 year-old old girl from Newport, R.I.  Using the online persona, Stabile persuaded numerous young boys between the ages of 13-15 to engage in explicit sexual activity in live stream videos over Facebook Messenger and Skype. 

The investigation began when the mother of a 14 year old boy in Nevada reported to the FBI that her son was the victim of an online enticement. The investigation uncovered chats between Stabile, pretending to be a 16 year-old girl, and the minor victim.  Stabile directed the minor victim to send back live video streams of himself masturbating.  As part of the effort to deceive the minor victim, Stabile falsely claimed technical difficulties were preventing “Cindi” from reciprocating with live video. Instead Stabile sent the Minor Victim images, both pornographic and non-pornographic, of an athletic young female purported to be “Cindi.”

In November 2018, a federal court authorized search warrant was executed at Stabile’s Cranston residence by law enforcement.  Several computers and other media devices seized were found to contain child pornography, including videos of dozens of young teenage boys performing a sex act in a similar manner to the Nevada-based minor victim.  Also found were the images sent by “Cindi” to the minor victim. 

Stabile admitted to law enforcement that he used the “Cindi Mennillo” online persona to communicate with minors as young as 14, sent them sexually explicit and pornographic images, and persuaded them to livestream video of themselves engaged in explicit sexual activity, which he recorded.

At sentencing on September 26, 2019, Stabile faces a statutory mandated minimum prison sentence of 10 years, up to life in federal prison. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.     

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Warwick and Cranston Police Departments, and the Washoe County, Nevada Sherriff’s Department.

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PROVIDENCE - Two Cranston men have been arrested after separate investigations revealed they allegedly communicated with minors in other states via the Internet, attempting to entice them to engage in sexual activity. Their communications allegedly included the transmission of sexually explicit photographs.

  On Friday, Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Cranston Police, arrested Raymond Gliottone, 35, in his basement apartment on charges of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in prohibited sexual activity and access with intent to view child pornography. It is alleged that Gliottone attempted to entice a 15-year-old girl in Maine. The communications allegedly included sexually explicit conversations, images of his genitalia, and encouraging the minor to run away with him.

Gliottone was ordered detained on Monday following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.

In a separate investigation, FBI agents, assisted by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Cranston Police, and Warwick Police, today arrested Paul Stabile, Jr., 38, on charges of transfer of obscene material to a minor under the age of 16, and possession and access with intent to view child pornography. It is alleged that Stabile, while purporting be a young woman a named “Cindy Mennillo,” communicated via the Internet and attempted to entice a 14-year-old boy in Nevada. The communications allegedly included sexually explicit conversations and the transmission of sexually explicit photographs purporting to be “Cindy Mennillo.”

During today’s arrest, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search of Stabile’s basement apartment and seized several digital storage devices.

Stabile was ordered detained in home confinement by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan following an initial appearance in U.S. District Court.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.

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