St. Paul man charged in multi-state "sextortion" scheme

(ABC 6 News) – St. Paul man Yue Vang, 31, has been charged with creating and using a "sextortion" scheme to prey on more than 500 minor girls across the country.

U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced that Vang created and used multiple social media services and internet applications, including Kik, Snapchat, and Skype, to communicate with young girls using fake female profiles.

He then coerced the girls to send him explicit images and videos, and threatened to send said images to the minor’s familiy, friends, and classmates unless they sent additional sexually explicit materials.

Law enforcement identified more than 500 young girls targeted across the states, and is looking to identify further victims.

Anyone with information about the case or who may have been a victim is encouraged to visit www.Justice.gov/usao-mn/child-sextortion-victim-information.

Vang was charged with two counts of production of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of interstate communications with intent to extort.

If convicted, he faces a minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison.