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Chansler, 31, formerly of St. Johns, FL, was sentenced to 105 years in federal prison after authorities found threatening communications to hundreds of girls online “with the intent to extort photographs and webcam videos showing the victims exposing themselves and engaging in sexually explicit conduct,” the bureau said this morning.
According to court testimony, Chansler targeted 350 child victims in 26 different states throughout the United States, three Canadian provinces, and the United Kingdom.
Of those, 109 were identified.
That leaves more than 240 who haven’t yet come forward.
The Newark FBI Field Office is joining with the Jacksonville Office and others nationwide and overseas “to bring all resources to bear in an effort to identify those individuals victimized by Chansler.”
SEE SCREEN NAME LIST, BELOW.
Chansler’s computer held hundreds of folders labeled with the name of each child victim, the FBI said. They contained “personal information specific to the victims, as well as related chat logs and videos or digital photos,” the bureau said.
Many of the chat logs contained the threats he made.
“In several of the videos, the victims are seen crying and pleading with Chansler,” the FBI said.
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BEGINNING at 2 p.m. today, www.FBI.gov will feature the Chansler investigation, with relevant information and on-camera interviews with victim Ashley Reynolds and Jacksonville FBI case agent Larry Meyer. It will also have a “What is sextortion?” educational video, a downloadable sextortion brochure, a wanted poster and a link to a confidential victim form.
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“Chansler pretended to be a friend, acquaintance, or admirer of the victims on various social networking websites,” the bureau said. “After gaining some measure of trust from a particular child, Chansler would invite her to engage in a live video chat and later would ask her to expose herself.
“Unbeknownst to the child, he was recording the video session.
“Chansler often enticed his victims to expose themselves by showing a streaming video of a minor male exposing himself or engaging in masturbation,” the FBI said.
“If a victim did expose herself, he recorded it and then later sent it to her over the Internet,” it said.
“Chansler would then demand additional and more graphic images or webcam videos. He would inform the child that if she did not comply, he would post the images and videos online, or send them to her family and friends.”
Using information received from the parents of one victim and working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), FBI agents identified Chansler.
They executed a search warrant at his home in January 2010.
“During an interview, Chansler stated that he used social networking sites to meet girls who ranged in age from 13 to 18,” the FBI said. “He stated that he targeted underage girls because adult women were ‘too smart’ to fall for his scheme.”
Lucas Michael Chansler pleaded guilty to 9 counts of producing child pornography on August 13, 2014. He was sentenced to 105 years in federal prison. Chansler had files on 350 girls whom he is believed to have sexually exploited. So far 109 of Chansler’s victims have been identified in 26 states, three Canadian Provinces and the UK. However, 250 of Chansler’s victims remain unknown.
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IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION that may help identify victims of Lucas Michael Chansler — or believe you may have been victimized by him — go to: http://www.fbi.gov/sextortion
Or submit a confidential e-mail to: FBIVICTIMASSISTANCE@IC.FBI.GOV
You can also contact the FBI Newark Field Office: (973) 792-3000 or toll-free 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Newark Field Office
11 Centre Place
Newark, NJ 07102
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