A Massachusetts man is facing federal charges after he allegedly used Snapchat to pose as a teen girl to extort nude photos from a middle school boy.
Matthew Murphy, 22, of Whitman, was arrested and charged Tuesday in federal court in Boston with two counts of sexual exploitation of children.
Prosecutors said Murphy posed as a teenage girl to get a Massachusetts middle school-aged boy to send him nude photos, and that federal investigators acquired parts of Murphy's Snapchat account that he made using a fake identity.
Investigators also said they found evidence that Murphy was extorting other minors nearby.
When authorities executed a search warrant at his home, Murphy allegedly admitted the fake account was his. Investigators also allegedly found evidence on some of his personal electronic devices.
In court documents, Murphy denied meeting any of the boys he communicated with but told agents he would "befriend" one at a time. He also admitted he helped out at local Boy Scout events and met one child and his father through the organization.
The Boy Scouts of America issued a statement on Murphy's arrest:
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"This individual's behavior is reprehensible and runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America stands. Upon learning of these reports, we removed this individual and prohibited him from any future participation in Scouting," read a statement from Bryan Feather, Scout Executive/CEO, Mayflower Council of Boy Scouts of America. "Nothing is more important than the safety and protection of children in our programs – it is our top priority."
If convicted, Murphy faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years behind bars. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
Investigators said they're still trying to identify additional victims, and anyone with questions or information related to the case is asked to call 617-748-3274.
