A Stamford man has been indicted on charges related to child exploitation, according to an announcement by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw.
The indictment alleges that Rick Marro, 44, who most recently lived in Stamford, was investigated after a 16-year-old male reported being sexually exploited by Marro. The victim stated he met Marro through a dating app and began communicating with him on Snapchat in April 2023. According to the victim’s account, they met at Marro’s residence several times and engaged in sexual activity on two occasions. The victim also reported that Marro provided him with “poppers,” expressed interest in asphyxiation, and once strangled him until he lost consciousness for about one or two minutes.
Law enforcement reviewed the victim’s Snapchat account and found videos sent by Marro showing them engaged in sexual acts. One video depicted Marro choking the victim. A search of Marro’s cell phone revealed the same videos as well as text messages where Marro told another person that he had “choked [the victim] all the way to unconscious today by accident.”
Marro was arrested on January 18, 2024, following a federal criminal complaint. On October 15, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven indicted him on charges including production of child pornography—which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years imprisonment—receipt and distribution of child pornography (five to twenty years), and possession of child pornography (up to ten years).
Marro pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on November 6, 2025. He remains detained while awaiting trial scheduled for August 2026.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stated: “An indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Stamford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative which focuses on protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. More information about this initiative can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
To report suspected cases of child exploitation, individuals are encouraged to visit www.cybertipline.com.
