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FBI seek victims of International online sextortion case

Posted at 6:09 PM, Jul 07, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-07 21:29:16-04

CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking the public’s help to identify additional victims of convicted online predator Lucas Michael Chansler.

Chansler, 31, formerly of St. Johns, Florida, was sentenced to 105 years in federal prison for engaging in an extortion scheme to produce child pornography. On August 13, 2014, Chansler pleaded guilty to nine counts of producing child pornography.

lucas wing

Lucas Michael Chansler

Chansler had approximately 80,000 images and videos in his possession.

“According to court testimony, Chansler targeted 350 minor victims in 26 different states throughout the United States, three Canadian provinces, and the United Kingdom. One hundred and nine victims have been positively identified, according to a FBI press release.

According to the FBI, the most commonly seen IDs and screen names Chansler used are:

  • argon1049
  • poopers2212
  • vhugh20191
  • CaptainObvious
  • anon
  • Cameroon
  • corpum15
  • quinlorn1015 and quinlorn1039
  • sk8er4life2021
  • tyler
  • VictorHugo

Court documents show Chansler made threatening communications to hundreds of teen girls over the internet from 2007 through January 8, 2010. He made these threats with the intent to extort photos and webcam videos showing the victims exposing themselves and engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He pretended to be a friend, acquaintance, or admirer of the victims on various social networking websites.

location map online predator

“During an interview, Chansler stated that he used social networking sites to meet girls who ranged in age from 13 to 18. He stated that he targeted underage girls because adult women were ‘too smart’ to fall for his scheme,” according to the FBI.

“After gaining some measure of trust from a particular victim, Chansler would invite her to engage in a live video chat, and later would ask her to expose herself. Unbeknownst to the victim, he was recording the video session,” said the FBI. “Chansler often enticed his victims to expose themselves by showing a streaming video of a minor male exposing himself or engaging in sexually explicit behavior. If a victim did expose herself, he recorded it, and then demanded additional and more graphic images or webcam videos. He would inform the victim that if she did not comply, he would distribute the images and videos online, or send them to her family and friends,” the FBI added.

Forensic analysis of Chansler’s computer media revealed hundreds of folders labeled with the name of each victim. These media files included several videos of victims crying and pleading with Chansler.

With information provided by one of the victim’s parents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children agents were able to identify Chansler and locate his residence. He was arrested on January 8, 2010.

Part of an online chat between Lucas Michael Chansler and one of his victims.

Part of an online chat between Lucas Michael Chansler and one of his victims.

“Sextortion is a growing threat both domestically and internationally,” Assistant Director Joseph S. Campbell explains. "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,” said Campbell.

“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.”

If you have information that may help identify victims of Lucas Michael Chansler or believe you have been victimized by him, please learn more and complete our confidential questionnaire at FBI.gov/sextortion. You can also send a confidential e-mail to FBI.VICTIMASSISTANCE@IC.FBI.GOV, contact your local FBI Field Office, or call toll-free at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).