This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Western Australia Police Force
A WA man who allegedly pretended to be a teenage social media celebrity to 'sextort' girls online has been charged with 134 additional offences, following continuing investigations by the Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET).
The 25-year-old Parkwood man, who is expected to appear in Perth Magistrate's Court by video-link today (Friday 15 January 2021) on the new offences, is now facing a total of 247 charges relating to 245 alleged victims.
Police will allege the man assumed a celebrity identity online to befriend girls in Australia and overseas, before blackmailing them into providing him with sexually explicit images or videos.
WA JACET launched an investigation after reports from the United States' Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Interpol about a person suspected to be in Australia who was targeting girls through social media.
The man faced court for the first time on 23 October (2020) on charges relating to 112 alleged victims.
The original media release is located on the AFP website.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers arrested the man on 27 October after they allegedly found he was failing to comply with a requirement of his bail conditions and successfully applied to the court to have his bail revoked.
An ongoing review of hundreds of social media chats and other data, including sexually explicit images, stored on the man's devices resulted in the further charges relating to 133 alleged victims.
The review is ongoing and police have not ruled out laying more charges.
WA JACET, which comprises officers from AFP and WA Police Force, are working with international law enforcement partners and the social media companies to try to identify the girls targeted, to check on their welfare and provide them support.
Adults and children can be the targets of sextortion, also known as image-based abuse. If this has happened to you, consider the following course of action:
- do not send any more personal images or videos;
- get support from a trusted friend or family member, or professional support services;
- collect as much evidence as you can, including screenshots, URLs or any other records;
- block the person's number/profile/email address (do this after collecting evidence);
- giving in to requests is not encouraged, once you have complied with their demands there is nothing preventing them from targeting you again;
- report the matter to police.
If you are worried about your physical safety, call Triple Zero (000) or contact your local police station.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to report it via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation at www.accce.gov.au/report.
