FBI releases 12 screen names to ID more sextortion victims in Minnesota
The FBI has launched a nationwide search for potential victims in a “sextortion” scheme involving convicted online predator Lucas Chansler. Investigators have already identified 109 victims, including at least 6 victims in Minnesota.
Chansler, 31 formerly of St. Johns, Fla., pleaded guilty in 2014 to 9 counts of producing child pornography and was sentenced to 105 years in federal prison. According to court testimony, he targeted 350 minor victims in 26 states, 3 Canadian provinces, and several areas in the United Kingdom.
Chansler told police he used social networking sites to meet girls who ranged in age from 13 to 18. He specifically targeted underage girls because he believed adult women were “too sophisticated” to fall for the scheme.
Most commonly-used screen names
The FBI has a list of 135 known screen names used by Chansler on Myspace, Stickam and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). His most frequently used names include:
argon1049
poopers2212
vhugh20191
CaptainObvious
anon
Cameroon
corpum15
quinlorn1015 and quinlorn1039
sk8er4life2021
tyler
VictorHugo
The scheme
According to court documents, from 2007 and continuing through January 2010, Chansler transmitted threatening communications to hundreds of girls over the internet. He pretended to be a friend or admirer of the victims, then invited them to participate in live video chats, which he secretly recorded.
During these chats, Chansler would ask the girls to expose themselves, then demand more explicit photos and videos. He threatened to distribute their exposing video chat online, or send it to family and friends if they didn’t comply with his demand.
The takedown
Using information received from the parents of one victim, and working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, FBI agents were able to identify and track down Chansler. Forensic analysis of his computer turned up chat logs and video recordings, including several videos that show girls crying and pleading with Chansler. In total, he had approximately 80,000 images and videos on his computer.
How to help
If you have information that may help identify victims of Lucas Michael Chansler, or believe you have been victimized by him, please complete a confidential questionnaire at FBI.gov/sextortion. You can also send a confidential email to FBI.VICTIMASSISTANCE@IC.FBI.GOV, contact the Minneapolis Division at (763) 569-8000 or call toll-free at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).