Scioto County – Sheriff David Thoroughman states that his office was contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations whom reported an incident, sexual in nature, that occurred involving a potential suspect in the Minford area.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that detectives, working jointly with the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim Unit and the FBI, were able to identify a juvenile victim that resides out of state. A search warrant for a residence located on White Gravel Dewey Road in Minford was obtained and executed. During the search several items were seized to include gaming systems, computers and cellphones.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that the investigation revealed that an adult male was getting online playing Fortnite and other games with underage boys. The suspect would offer to buy the boy games and gaming items if the boy performed sexual acts online via zoom. While watching the juvenile perform these sexual acts the suspect would perform sexual acts for the juvenile boy to watch.
Arrested was Nicholas A. Ranieri, age 27, of 725 White Gravel Dewey Road, Minford Ohio. Ranieri has been charged with Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor, a felony of the 2nd degree, and Disseminating Material Harmful to a Juvenile, a felony of the 4th degree. Ranieri is being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $125,000.00 bond and appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that could result in more victims coming forward and additional charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date.
