Joseph Caracciolo, 47.
Credit: FBI
Investigators with the FBI’s Newark Division arrested a man accused of traveling between New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to sexually abuse a 12-year-old girl, who allegedly became pregnant and in April gave birth to the suspect’s child.
Authorities said the information came to light through a disturbing series of phone call and text message exchanges between Joseph Anthony Caracciolo, now 47, and the young victim, resulting in Caracciolo’s arrest Aug. 28 in Atlantic County.
According to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday, the investigation touched off when the FBI last month learned of an investigation by the Egg Harbor Township Police Department into the pregnancy of a 12-year-old girl, now 13, who gave birth in April.
The juvenile victim, identified in court documents only as “Victim 1,” allegedly said Caracciolo – who police said also goes by the aliases Joseph Crillo, Joseph Grillo, and Tony Gallardo – repeatedly had sex with her in May through August of 2012, traveling from New York to her father’s home in Egg Harbor Township, as well as taking her from New Jersey to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania.
The complaint states Victim 1 in late August agreed to let law enforcement monitor her communications with Caracciolo, in which he allegedly admitted to fathering the child,referring to the girl’s baby as “our child” and “my daughter.”
On Aug. 13, Caracciolo said to Victim 1, “I really miss you so much … And I want to hold my [Victim 1’s baby] so bad,” the complaint claims.
An alleged phone conversation between Caracciolo and Victim 1.
Credit: FBI
In a conversation on Aug. 22, he allegedly said, “Why do you keep saying ‘my’ baby? You always say that and I hate that; you never say ‘ours’ –you always say mine.”
An alleged phone conversation between Caracciolo and Victim 1.
Credit: FBI
Caracciolo is currently imprisoned at the Atlantic County Jail on $300,000 cash bail.
Now, investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying additional possible victims of the alleged serial predator, who authorities say has since the early-to-mid 1990s lived in Florida, California and New York, and travelled extensively to New Jersey, Connecticut, and Virginia.
Caracciolo has at times allegedly represented himself to be a chef, pediatric dentist, business owner, sales-person, electrician’s assistant and a cancer patient, according to investigators.
The complaint states he also has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for bigamy, larceny and failure to register as a sex offender.
Caracciolo has several tattoos, including a chef’s hat with the words “Top Chef” and a cancer ribbon with boxing gloves – both on his forearms – as well as the initials “AJ” on his inner left wrist, the letter “M” on his inner right wrist, the initials “NY” on his left upper arm and an “X” between the webbing of his thumb and index finger.
A tattoo on Caracciolo’s forearm.
Credit: FBI
A tattoo on Caracciolo’s forearm.
Credit: FBI
An ivy tattoo on Caracciolo’s finger.
Credit: FBI
Authorities said Caracciolo is known to have frequented Atlantic City casinos, using aliases and conducting gambling transactions in the names of other people he has met there.
Individuals with information concerning Caracciolo are asked to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
