Queens Man Held on $500,000 Bond after Coercing Westport Teen to Send Nude Photos, Sharing them
Westport Police Department Photo. A Queens, New York man [Anthony Pangallo, 37] was arrested by the Westport Police Department on Tuesday after a months-long investigation across multiple law enforcement teams. Allegations describe Pangallo’s coercion of a Westport teenage girl, making her send him nude photos of herself, at which point he then requested money from the girl in order for him to keep the photos private. The arrest report states that when the girl did not pay, Pangallo shared the photos of the minor.
The Westport Police Department investigation included the help of the New York Police Department, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Queen’s County District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Connecticut State’s Attorney.
Pangallo was held on $500,000 bond, and was transported to Stamford Superior Court for his arraignment on Wednesday.
Anthony Pangallo, of Rego Park, New York, has been charged with:
Risk of Injury to a Child
Employing a Minor in Obscene Performance
Promoting a Minor in Obscene Performance
Coercion
Unlawful Dissemination of an Intimate Image
Westport Police Department ReleaseOn December 4, 2020, the Westport Police Detective Bureau received a report of the possible exploitation of a local teenager. The complainant reported that she befriended an individual on social media. This individual persuaded the complainant to send nude photos of herself to him. After a period of time passed, the suspect allegedly told the complainant that if she did not pay him a sum of money, he would put the pictures on social media. When the complainant refused to pay, the suspect purportedly posted the compromising pictures.
The detectives launched an extensive investigation that included the execution of several search warrants and Anthony Pangallo was developed as a suspect. The evidence gathered suggested that Mr. Pangallo, who is thirty-seven years old, was the individual who engaged in the illegal conduct noted above. Therefore, a warrant for Mr. Pangallo’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge.
On the morning of May 25, 2021, Mr. Pangallo was taken into custody by Westport detectives. Per the warrant, he was charged with Risk of Injury to a Child, Employing a Minor in Obscene Performance, Promoting a Minor in Obscene Performance, Coercion, and Unlawful Dissemination of an Intimate Image. Mr. Pangallo was held on a $500,000.00 bond and was transported to Stamford Superior Court the morning of May 26, 2021 for his arraignment.
We would like to thank the following law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this investigation:
NYPD Computer Crimes Squad of the Special Investigations Division
Queens II – Sex Offender Unit New York State, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Queens County District Attorney’s Office
Office of the State’s Attorney, Judicial District of Stamford – Norwalk
Westport Woman’s Club Awards $25,000 to Support Local COVID-19 Assistance
The Westport Woman’s Club has announced their awarding 16 grants totaling $25,000. The Club announced in their release that “Due to the COVID-19 health crisis impacting so many people in the Fairfield County community, the WWC Community Services Committee decided to focus on shelter and mental health for their 2021 grant distributions.” The Westport Woman’s Club is a philanthropic organization serving Westport since 1907.
Westport Woman’s Club ReleaseWESTPORT WOMAN’S CLUB AWARDS COVID-19 COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS – SPRING 2021
Community Service has been the trademark of the Westport Woman’s Club since its inception in 1907. Each year club members volunteer many hours to find the right balance between current needs within the local community, available funds, and the WWC mission. Due to the COVID-19 health crisis impacting so many people in the Fairfield County community, the WWC Community Services Committee decided to focus on shelter and mental health for their 2021 grant distributions. This year’s sixteen grant recipients serve a variety of social needs including homelessness, family crises, and food insecurity.
WWC 2021 Community Service Grants totaling $25,000, were awarded to the following Fairfield County nonprofit organizations:
Bridgeport Rescue Mission (www.bridgeportrescuemission.org),
Center for Family Justice (www.centerforfamilyjustice.org),
Circle of Care (www.thecircleofcare.org),
Clasp Homes, Inc. (www.clasphomesofwestport.com),
Department of Human Services (www.westportct.gov),
Domestic Violence Crisis Center (www.dvccct.org),
ElderHouse (www.elderhouse.org),
Family & Children’s Agency, Inc.(www.familyandchildrensagency.org),
Filling in the Blanks (www.fillingintheblanks.org),
Food Rescue Us (www.foodrescue.us),
Homes with Hope (www.hwhct.org),
Malta House, Inc. (www.maltahouse.org),
Person-to-Person (www.p2phelps.org),
Rowan Center (www.therowancenter.org),
Visiting Nurses & Hospice of Fairfield County (www.visitingnurse.net/hospice-care/),
Westport Volunteer EMS (www.westportems.org).
Interested community members can visit these organizations’ websites to support the COVID-19 services each is providing within our Fairfield County community.
The Westport Woman’s Club, organized in 1907, is a non-profit philanthropic organization dedicated to volunteerism and the raising funds in support of the educational, charitable, cultural and public health services in Westport and surrounding towns. You do not have to be a Westport Resident to join The Westport Woman’s Club. To join, call the WWC office at 203-227-4240.
Lower Main Street Closed through Sunday for Fine Arts Festival
Main Street, between Route One and Avery Place, was closed this morning in preparation for the Downtown Merchants Association Fine Arts Festival. The road will remain closed until late Sunday night.
Westport Police Department
Westport Downtown Merchants Association will be holding their Fine Arts Festival this weekend (05/29-05/30). This festival will necessitate the closure of Main St between Post Rd East and Avery Place and Elm St between Main St and Bedford Square from 9:00 AM on Friday 05/28 through 9:00 PM on Sunday 05/30. These road closures will result in traffic congestion downtown and increased pedestrian traffic. The motoring public are urged to use caution while driving through Downtown Westport this weekend.
Morning Weather Report [05/28/21] Cooler, with Afternoon Showers
Today
Rain likely after 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 63. East wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
High Tides: 12:55 AM/1:34 PM
Low Tides: 7:40 AM/7:50 PM
Tonight
Rain. Low around 48. Northeast wind 13 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tomorrow
Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Northeast wind around 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow Night
A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 47. Northeast wind 13 to 15 mph.