A dual Italian-Australian national was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Perth District Court today (6 November, 2025) for engaging in sexual activity online with a child in Indonesia.
The man, 36, who has been living in Western Australia, will serve a non-parole period of seven years and six months.
An investigation began on 24 January, 2024, following a referral from Homeland Security Investigations after US Customs and Border Protection officers at Los Angeles International Airport found child abuse material on the man's mobile phone.
During a luggage examination, they discovered a conversation in which the man instructed a child from Indonesia to engage in sexual poses and activity via video call in exchange for money.
The matter was referred to the AFP's Eastern Command Child Protection Operations after the man was denied entry to the United States and returned to Sydney.
On 28 January, 2024, the AFP arrested the man at Sydney Airport as he tried to board a flight destined for Mexico.
In March, 2024, the AFP successfully applied to extradite the man to WA because, at the time of his online offending, he had been living in Perth.
On 23 May, 2025, the man pleaded guilty to:
- Two counts of sexual activity with a child outside of Australia, contrary to section 272.9(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of grooming a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, contrary to section 272.15 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of preparing for or planning to have sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia, contrary to section 272.20 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possess child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
AFP Acting Commander Murray Taylor said every action online was traceable and the AFP and its partners - both in Australia and overseas - remained fiercely committed to the protection of children from online harm.
"This result is a pointed warning to anyone involved in the online exploitation of children for their own sexual gratification," Acting Commander Taylor said.
"Our investigators are relentless and won't stop until they have brought you before the court to face punishment for your abhorrent crimes."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
