A 30-year-old man has been placed in pretrial detention in Argentina after being accused of running a large-scale digital sexual exploitation network. The case, which involves both adult women and minors, was brought to light through a coordinated police operation carried out across several provinces.
A Fake Audiovisual Producer at the Heart of the Scandal
The accused, Gianfranco Gaspar Núñez, originally from Rosario, posed as an audiovisual producer. Under this false professional identity, he offered young women the opportunity to participate in filming sessions in exchange for payment, promising them international distribution to protect their anonymity. The platform used to recruit victims was called « Argentina Casting« .
According to authorities, Núñez assured participants that the videos would only be sold abroad. In reality, the recordings were then distributed on digital platforms and in private groups without the victims’ consent, while the suspect profited financially.
Operation « Casting para Preso »: Three Provinces Mobilised
The investigation was led by Argentina’s Federal Department of Investigations. It resulted in the dismantling of the network through an operation named « Casting para Preso » (literally: « Casting for Prisoner »), carried out simultaneously in the provinces of Rosario, Buenos Aires, and Misiones.
During the searches, more than 150 videos linked to the network were seized. Argentina’s national Ministry of Security confirmed that the scheme relied on three key elements: deception, non-consensual filming, and non-payment of victims.
Charged With Human Trafficking and Digital Sexual Exploitation
Gianfranco Gaspar Núñez remains in custody. He has been charged with human trafficking and digital sexual exploitation, both serious offences under Argentine law. Federal justice authorities continue to gather evidence and are working to identify any additional victims as well as potential accomplices.
This case highlights the dangers of sexual exploitation in the digital age, where social media and content platforms can be hijacked for criminal purposes, targeting vulnerable individuals lured by promises of money or fame.
Man Accused of Running a Digital Sexual Exploitation Scheme
A 30-year-old man from Rosario, Argentina, has been accused by a federal court of exploiting women through digital platforms. Identified as Gianfranco Gaspar Núñez, he has been placed in pretrial detention as prosecutors continue investigating to determine whether there are additional victims.
A Scheme Built on Social Media Recruitment
Originally charged in July last year for the sexual exploitation of women in digital environments, Núñez was brought back before federal courts, where the charges were expanded and his detention extended for 90 days.
According to the investigation, Núñez offered money to various users on Instagram to film explicit sexual videos, promising that the content would be monetized abroad. However, the material was later distributed widely on open platforms.
Targeting Vulnerable Young Women
Information gathered by the Complex Cases Investigation Unit of the Rosario Prosecutor’s Office reveals that the suspect recruited young women, particularly those in vulnerable situations, aged between 18 and 22, from different regions of the country via social media.
He sometimes used two Instagram accounts — “Argentina Casting” and “GianCasting” — to propose filming explicit sexual content in exchange for a one-time payment via bank transfer, assuring participants that the videos would not be viewable within Argentina.
Filming in Hotels and Rented Apartments
Núñez arranged meetings with the women in temporary rental apartments or hotels across various regions. There, he filmed sexual acts, often without protection, and required the victims to sign adhesion contracts.
These agreements granted him irrevocable rights to edit, sell, and distribute the content, including producing pornographic videos in which he also appeared.
Content Made Public Despite Promises
Despite assuring participants of limited distribution, the defendant later published the content on open platforms with no territorial restrictions, making the videos accessible worldwide.
The Case Unfolds
The first hearing in the case took place on July 29, 2025, when prosecutors initially attributed three incidents to Núñez. Following the collection of evidence in five additional cases involving victims aged 18 to 22 from Rosario, Córdoba, Buenos Aires, and Santiago del Estero, the suspect was arrested and formally charged on March 27 before Judge Carlos Vera Barros, who ordered his detention.
The investigation began on September 12, 2024, after a complaint filed by Marcelo Colombo, head of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prosecutor’s Office. The report indicated that Núñez had paid approximately 500,000 pesos to a young woman to film a video.
The victim, an adult, agreed under the condition that the material would not be viewable in Argentina, as stated in a contract she signed but was not allowed to keep. However, the video was later seen in her hometown of Posadas, causing significant harm.
Large Financial Transactions
Núñez sometimes paid victims via bank transfers and occasionally in cash. According to case records, between January 1, 2023, and May 18, 2024, he transferred a total of 119 million pesos using ten digital wallets registered in his name.
Deception and False Identities
In some instances, the suspect pretended to be a woman who coordinated meetings in the victims’ local areas. Investigators confirmed that it was always the same individual behind these interactions.
He also used false identities, introducing himself as “Liam” or “Elion,” and in at least three cases, victims were made to sign contracts they could not properly read, copy, or photograph.
Serious Charges and Legal Consequences
Núñez is now formally charged with eight counts of human trafficking for the purpose of exploitation, specifically involving recruitment and harboring of victims.
The charges are aggravated by the number of victims, abuse of vulnerability, deception, and the completion of exploitation. The offense carries a potential prison sentence of 8 to 12 years.
Promotion and Ongoing Exploitation
Prosecutors also revealed that Núñez used a public group on the messaging app Telegram to promote and sell the videos he produced.
The last five victims, whose testimonies led to the expansion of charges, stated in court that they were deceived into participating. The videos were not only distributed abroad but also widely shared across various platforms and applications, reaching even their family and social circles, causing emotional distress and psychological harm.
A Structured and Long-Term Operation
At the time of formalizing the investigation, prosecutors emphasized that the case does not involve isolated incidents but rather a structured and ongoing system with wide geographic reach.
The model relied on a one-time payment to victims, followed by prolonged economic exploitation through the indefinite distribution of the videos — a form of human trafficking adapted to digital environments.
Authorities stressed that the exploitation extends far beyond the filmed act, continuing over time and affecting victims’ dignity, privacy, digital identity, and sexual integrity.
A Fully Controlled Operation
According to the prosecution, Núñez personally handled every stage of the process: recruiting victims through social media, arranging meetings, filming content with his own equipment, editing the material, uploading it to distribution platforms, and actively promoting it to maximize profits.
They also highlighted that the promise of limited distribution, combined with the concealment of the content’s global and permanent reach, constituted a key element of deception influencing the victims’ decisions.
