RI Man Admits To Trying To Get Sexual Videos From 2 Florida Teens

NORTH PROVIDENCE, RI — A registered sex offender from North Smithfield admitted Wednesday to a federal judge he posed as a 17-year-old boy to try to get sexually explicit videos from two teen boys from Florida, as well as try to arrange a meeting with one of them.

Nicholas Sannicandro, 34, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted inducement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity, two counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, possession and access with intent to view child pornography, and commission of an offense by a registered sex offender.

Sannicandro admitted that beginning in January 2021, and continuing into June 2021, he communicated with two Florida teens, who he met through an Instagram account. He also admitted he had sexually explicit conversations with each of the boys. During those conversations, Sannicandro asked each of them to send him sexually explicit videos and pictures of themselves, prosecutors said.

Additionally, during what he thought were ongoing communications with one of the boys, Sannicandro invited one of the boys to visit him in Rhode Island, discussed sexual acts that he wanted to engage in with the boy; and twice sent him videos of himself engaged in sexual activity. Prosecutors said these conversations were actually with an undercover police officer.

Prosecutors said Sannicandro was arrested at a Warwick marina on June 22, 2021, where he was expecting to meet with the boy. The meeting was arranged by the North Port, Florida, undercover officer posing online as the boy and by the FBI.

Sannicandro also admitted he possessed child pornography on his phone, which was seized from him upon his arrest. He also admitted he was a registered sex offender.

Sannicandro is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 19. Prosecutors said no plea agreement was filed in this case.

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