Online predators catch the attention of children typically by operating from the same playbook:
They run a decoy, posing as a child typically a lot younger than their actual age, slipping seamlessly into online spaces where kids gather and gab.
They likely pass along a fraudulent photo — maybe something innocent that doesn’t raise red flags. Perhaps a picture of a young actor from an old movie.
Then they run a long game, spending hours chatting over the course of days, weeks, even months, building trust and establishing familiarity.
At last comes the blitz: “Let’s meet at the park?” “Want to hang out after school?”
Such invitations usually come with this caveat: “We don’t need to let our parents know we’re meeting up…”
A Bay Shore man indicted on Tuesday, accused of luring two 11-year-old boys through Snapchat before sexually assaulting them, is just the latest example of online predators exploiting social media platforms to target Long Island children.
Bradley Schioppa, 18, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to a bevy of charges, including three counts of first-degree rape for allegedly befriending the boys through a Snapchat group chat before meeting them in person and sexually abusing them at public locations in Smithtown.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced the indictment Wednesday, calling the alleged crimes “horrific acts against two innocent children.”
“These charges reflect the seriousness of the alleged conduct,” Tierney said. “Protecting our most vulnerable residents, especially children, remains my highest priority. We will pursue this case with the full force of the law to deliver the justice these children deserve.”
Digital deception
Prosecutors said the alleged scheme began in April when Schioppa — operating with the username “paxonhotsg5” — infiltrated a Snapchat group chat created by several 11-year-old boys from the Smithtown area, prosecutors said.
Schioppa, who has at least two previous arrests and ongoing felony criminal cases, allegedly presented himself as a peer, and the children assumed he was around their age.
Authorities said the deception worked: The boys didn’t question his participation in their conversations, allowing Schioppa to build relationships with the group over time.
But the digital friendship soon moved into the physical world, Tierney said. Schioppa allegedly began showing up at locations where the boys would meet, including Robert A. Brady Park in Smithtown.
When the children met him face-to-face, they realized he was older than they had thought, but by then, prosecutors said, Schioppa had already established himself as a trusted figure in their social circle.
Investigators said Schioppa used classic grooming tactics — driving the boys around in his car, buying them snacks and soft drinks, and engaging them in what he called “prank games.” Such behavior is consistent with patterns identified by child safety experts, where predators use gifts and attention to normalize inappropriate boundaries before escalating to abuse.
The alleged assaults
The sexual abuse allegedly occurred at two separate public locations: the bathroom at Brady Park and the bathroom of a CVS store in Smithtown.
Tienrey said Schioppa continued to manipulate the children, framing the assaults as “pranks” or “dares” that the boys would be paid for.
The case came to light in May when one victim’s mother discovered messages between Schioppa and her son. When she questioned her child about the communications, it led to disclosure of the sexual attacks and a subsequent police investigation.
Schioppa was arrested on May 21. Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis on Tuesday ordered him held on $450,000 cash, $900,000 bond, or $4.5 million partially secured bond. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top charges and is due back in court July 8.
Schioppa’s attorney Ira Weissman did not immediately reply to Greater Long Island’s request for comment on the case.
On March 25, Schioppa was arrested by Nassau County police and charged with making a terroristic threat, harassment and behaving in a way that could harm a child. Suffolk police arrested him on April 11 and charged him with first-degree robbery, while displaying a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
A disturbing pattern
This case represents the latest in a series of online predator incidents targeting Long Island children this year.
Earlier in 2025, federal prosecutors announced charges against David Ibarra, a 31-year-old U.S. Air Force senior airman based in Alaska, for allegedly sexually exploiting a 9-year-old Long Island girl.
Ibarra was accused of using the gaming platform Roblox to establish contact with the victim before coercing her to send nude photos and videos. He was arrested in February and transferred to the Eastern District of New York to face charges of sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement.
The cases highlight how predators are increasingly using popular social media platforms and gaming sites — spaces where children naturally congregate online — to identify and target potential victims.
Seeking additional victims
As the investigation into Schioppa’s case continues, authorities are concerned there may be additional victims. Tierney’s office is asking parents to contact law enforcement if they believe their child may have communicated with Schioppa through his Snapchat account “paxonhotsg5” or through any other means.
Parents with concerns can contact the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 631.852.2555 or the Suffolk County Police Department Special Victims Section at 631.852.6531.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the need for parents to monitor their children’s online activities and maintain open communication about digital safety, as predators continue to evolve their tactics to exploit the platforms where young people spend increasing amounts of their time.
Top photos: Robert A. Brady Park in Smithtown (Google Maps) and Bradley Schioppa (Suffolk County District Attorney).
