BOSTON — An Athol man has been arrested and charged with sexually exploiting minors and receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors say he allegedly coerced minors into sending images over Snapchat.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Michael Indelicato, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester on charges including sexual exploitation of a minor (aiding and abetting), sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He was arrested on Oct. 7, 2025, and remains in federal custody.
According to court records, on or about Nov. 16, 2020, Indelicato told an individual on Snapchat that he would pay $1,500 for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving the individual’s younger, prepubescent sibling and asked that the images be sent to him. Prosecutors allege that the individual then produced the requested CSAM and sent it to Indelicato through the platform.
On or about Jan. 12, 2021, Indelicato allegedly used Snapchat to convince a different minor to create and send him CSAM of themselves, which he also received through the platform. Prosecutors further allege that during a warrant search of Indelicato’s home on May 1, 2025, investigators found a large quantity of CSAM belonging to him.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the charge of sexual exploitation of a minor carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, at least five years and up to life on supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, at least five years and up to life on supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to life on supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester office is prosecuting the case.