House Painter Dressed As Schoolgirl, Sent Pics of Fingernails in Bizarre Cyberstalking Case

CRANSTON, RI—Dennis Ciaramello, 61, of Providence, is a housepainter by day.

When not working, police said, Ciaramello had a secret life harassing people through electronic communications by sending them threatening texts, photos and videos, including some in which he dressed up like a schoolgirl and “repeatedly sent pictures of his fingernails.”

Now, Ciaramello, of 68 Silver Lake Ave., Providence, is facing charges of felony stalking and seven counts of misdemeanor cyberstalking after a lengthy investigation by members of the Cranston Police Department, along with investigators from Providence, Johnston, Warwick, Coventry, Richmond and the state police.

Ciaramello harassed 45 victims including four juveniles. At least, that’s the number of victims tallied up by police. There might be others.

To find victims, police said Ciaramello likely collected phone numbers from business cards and by taking information from people through his work as a self-employed painter.

“In order to avoid detection and identification, Ciaramello repeatedly changed phone numbers and removed all identifying data from the photographs and videos he transmitted,” said Lt. Matthew J. Kite of Cranston police.

Police said many victims were in fear after Ciaramello harassed them.

Along with dressing in a schoolgirl outfit, police said Ciaramello dressed in “various pieces of lingerie.”

Some of the victims were known to Ciaramello. Others were seemingly random. And, police said, "the contact between Ciaramello and some of these victims was documented as far back as 45 years ago."

Anyone who believes they were a victim is urged to call their local police department.

Additional charges could be filed.

Ciaramello is dsue to be arraigned today in Kent County District Court.