In February, 38-year-old Jason Fragale was arrested at Orlando International Airport while trying to leave the country. The suspect is facing 10 felony charges related to child pornography following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Virginia State Police, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
According to a criminal complaint, Fragale uploaded several images believed to be child pornography to the messaging app Kik. He also referred to himself as a pedophile and made disturbing comments about sexually assaulting a child. Fragale operated the Crimson All-Star Cheerleading Club out of an office in Reston Town Center under an alias, going by the name Jason Mariani.
Despite having business cards with aliases ‘Jason Mariani’ and ‘USA Cheer,’ police are investigating whether the business was ever legitimate or just a front to lure young girls into sexual predation. The business is now defunct and has no longer has an office at Reston Town Center.
Authorities suspect that Fragale enticed young girls with promises of cheerleading coaching, modeling, and measurements. However, he has not been charged in connection to the cheerleading business itself. Police are urging anyone who interacted with him under his alias as a cheer coach to come forward and speak to authorities so they can provide more information on his activities.
Fragale maintained residences in Florida and Leesburg before being extradited to Loudoun County for trial in July. Virginia State Police Special Agent Mike Bullock advises parents to speak with their children about any interactions they may have had with Fragale under either his real name or aliases and report any suspicious behavior or information immediately so that authorities can investigate further.
