Registered Sex Offender Charged With Traveling To And From New Jersey To Assault A Minor

FBI Seeks Additional Victims, Information

CAMDEN, N.J. – A registered sex offender who allegedly traveled between New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to sexually assault a girl younger than 13 on more than one occasion is expected to appear this afternoon to face a federal charge in Camden federal court, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Joseph Anthony Caracciolo, aka “Joseph Crillo,” aka “Joseph Grillo,” 47 – believed to have resided in Massachusetts, California, Virginia, Connecticut, Florida and New York – was arrested in New York on Aug. 28, 2013. He is currently being held on related state charges filed by the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey is adopting the case for federal criminal prosecution.

Caracciolo is charged by federal criminal complaint with travelling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. He is to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams.

The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are seeking additional information from the public in order to identify other potential victims.

According to documents filed in this case:

During a period between May and August 2012, Caracciolo traveled from New York to New Jersey and from New Jersey to Pennsylvania in order to sexually assault a 12-year-old girl.

In intercepted communications, Caracciolo acknowledged paternity of a child born to the victim. The exchanges were monitored by law enforcement with the victim’s consent.

The count with which Caracciolo is charged carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website, Caracciolo has been in violation of his sex offender registration requirements since August 2005.

Individuals with information concerning Caracciolo are asked to contact the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Information can also be provided to the nearest FBI field office or filed electronically at https://tips.fbi.gov.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Newark FBI Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark; the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of James P. McClain; and the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael J. Morris, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin C. Danilewitz and Matthew T. Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

13-372                                                    

Defense counsel: Assistant Federal Public Defender Thomas Young Esq., Camden

Caracciolo, Joseph Anthony Complaint