SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, has arrested a Minford man on child pornography-related charges.
The Sheriff, in a statement to local media, said that his office was contacted by the FBI, who were investigating a case involving 27-year-old Nicholas Ranieri. According to investigators, Ranieri would target underage males by playing Fortnite and other online games. Ranieri, authorities say, would offer to buy the boys games and gaming items if they performed sexual acts via Zoom. The Sheriff also stated that the man would then ask the boys to watch him perform sex acts on himself.
A search warrant was executed at Ranieri’s residence on White Gravel Dewey Road. During the search, investigators seized multiple electronic devices.
Nicholas Ranieri was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including pandering obscenity involving a minor and disseminating material harmful to a juvenile.
He is currently being held on a $125,000 bond in the Scioto County Jail. The investigation, the sheriff’s office said, is still ongoing and could result in additional charges. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.
