Teen used nude pics in extortion scheme

A Gainesville teenager used an Internet conversation with an adult and some naked photographs to blackmail the man for hundreds of dollars, police say. The 16-year-old, arrested Thursday, is charged with extortion in a case that stems from a March conversation over the Internet, the Gainesville Police Department reported. The teenager is accused of asking for nude photos of a 26-year-old Maryland man. After the adult e-mailed the photos, the teen told the man his true age and threatened him, saying if he didn`t send money the police would be notified. Based on e-mails investigators reviewed, Detective Jorge Campos said it appeared the man did not know he was dealing with a juvenile. He only would have faced criminal action if he had knowingly sent the pictures to a minor. The case, Campos said, is unique since it involves an adult victim and alleged juvenile culprit. Generally, the public hears about cases where adults have tricked children by developing computer relationships. But, he said, it matches those cases because, once again, a person offered private information to someone they met on the Internet. "The anonymity of the Internet is where people who want to commit crimes usually hide behind," Campos said. The blackmail continued for months through late August, police reported. In that time, the man sent about $2,500 to the teenager, who used the money to buy clothes and food, Campos said. After weeks of paying off the teenager and threats, including that a lawyer would be contacted, the man went to police. An undercover operation, using the man`s e-mail account, led police to the teen. He was videotaped on Tuesday trying to retrieve money sent to him under the victim`s name. Campos said the case also should remind parents they need to know what their kids are doing on their computers. "There is a lot of stuff going on online with juveniles that parents are unaware of," he said. Campos said he did not know if there were other victims but would be reviewing the teenager`s computer for additional information.