FBI Seeks Public Help In International Sextortion Case

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

GoLocalPDX News Team

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the public’s help in identifying the victims of convicted online predator Lucas Michael Chansler. The 31-year-old Florida native was recently sentenced to 105 years in federal prison for an expansive sextortion scheme.

In posing under 135 known screen names on various social media websites, Chansler ultimately targeted 350 minor victims in 26 different states, according to court testimony. Through cooperative work between parents of one victim and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Chansler’s residence was located and raided in 2010, along with 80,000 images and videos of minors.

“Sextortion is a growing threat both domestically and internationally,” said Joseph S. Campbell, FBI Assistant Director. “The devastating impact of these crimes on the victims, their families, and friends cannot be ignored. The FBI is committed to using our resources and leveraging law enforcement partnerships around the world to identify and arrest these criminals."

How the Scheme Worked

Chansler would engage in a live video chat with victims and ask girls aged 13 to 18 to expose themselves as he simultaneously displayed a video of a male minor exposing himself.

At the same time, Chansler would record the encounter without the victim’s knowledge and then demand more graphic images or videos. If the victim refused to comply with Chansler’s demands, he would threaten to distribute the images throughout the internet or send them to her family and friends.

"I'm proud of the young girl and her parents for taking a stand against sexual exploitation by submitting the information to NCMEC's CyberTipline," said Linda Krieg, NCMEC's acting CEO. "That one CyberTipline report, through the FBI's investigation, turned out to be the tip of the iceberg involving a sophisticated child predator who allegedly victimized hundreds of children."

Do Your Part

If anyone has information regarding the Chansler case or believes to have been victimized by him, they are suggested to visit the FBI’s website on sextortion and take a confidential questionnaire.

Individuals can also send a confidential email to [email protected], contact their local FBI Field Office, or call toll-free at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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