Ramanan Pathmanathan Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation

Ramanan Pathmanathan, a 40-year-old man from Toronto, pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to charges of production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. He admitted to sexually exploiting over 100 children, aged 11 to 17, across the United States for seven years by posing as an American teenage boy on social media. Ramanan Pathmanathan manipulated and threatened victims into performing sexually explicit acts, which he recorded and used for blackmail. He was arrested in Canada in 2021 and previously sentenced to 12 years in prison in Canada for similar offenses in October 2022. Ramanan Pathmanathan was temporarily surrendered to the United States in December 2025 and faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years to life in prison, along with fines and restitution, with sentencing scheduled for May 27. The United States — United States Department of Justice, with assistance from the Canada — Edmonton Police Service and investigation by the United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation, is prosecuting the case.